Srinagar, Feb 20 (KNT): Cabinet Minister Satish Sharma on Friday said that Kashmir would not have survived the 1947 tribal invasion had Sheikh Abdullah not played a decisive and stabilising role at that critical juncture.
Sharma was responding to remarks attributed to BJP-nominated Rajya Sabha MP Ghulam Ali Khatana, who had alleged that Sheikh Abdullah and former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru were responsible for facilitating the killing of Muslims during the period of turmoil in 1947.
Rejecting the allegations, Sharma said such statements reflected a poor understanding of historical facts. He advised leaders to study history in its entirety before making public claims that could mislead people or distort established realities.
“The tribal invasion posed an existential threat to Kashmir. Sheikh Abdullah’s leadership at that moment was instrumental in mobilising resistance, maintaining internal stability and preventing a complete collapse,” Sharma said.
He cautioned against selective readings of history, stating that political discourse should be grounded in facts rather than driven by narratives that suit contemporary political objectives. According to Sharma, the events of 1947 were shaped by complex political and military developments, and reducing them to oversimplified claims does injustice to historical truth.
The minister urged public representatives to exercise restraint while referring to sensitive historical events, saying irresponsible statements risk reopening old wounds and confusing younger generations about the region’s past.
