
First Indian🇮🇳 PM Jawaharlal Nehru on Kashmir’s accession to India:
'The accession took place when Pakistan invaded India, or rather, Pakistan helped people, the tribal people, to invade India. And the people of Kashmir resisted this invasion. That is, not only the Maharaja was there, but the others, the National Conference, which is quite apart from our National Congress, resisted it.
The Muslims themselves resisted it, and then they asked to be invited to India, and both the Maharaja and the National Conference were there. And we agreed. It was before that, it was doubtful which way they would turn.
They agreed, and then we had to send some troops there to defend them from these tribal raiders. And for about a year, 14 months or so, this thing went on. Then there was a ceasefire.'
New Order with Afshin Rattansi @NewOrder_TV
🇮🇳 26 OCTOBER 1947 | JAMMU AND KASHMIR ACCEDES TO INDIA
On 26 October 1947, Maharaja Hari Singh, the ruler of Jammu and Kashmir, signed the Instrument of Accession to the Dominion of India, marking a pivotal moment in the history of the subcontinent.
The decision came amid a grave military crisis. Armed tribal raiders backed by Pakistan had entered the princely state and were advancing towards Srinagar. Facing the threat, the Maharaja sought military assistance from India and signed the accession document.
On 27 October, Governor-General Lord Mountbatten accepted the Instrument of Accession, and Indian troops were airlifted to Srinagar to defend the state against the advancing raiders.
📜 What did the Instrument establish?
It transferred authority to India over defence, external affairs and communications, along with related matters specified in the document.
The accession became a defining moment in Jammu and Kashmir’s history, shaping its constitutional relationship with India and the subsequent conflict between India and Pakistan.
🇮🇳 26 October 1947 remains a landmark date, marking Jammu and Kashmir’s accession to India amid a critical struggle to defend the state.