Jammu, Oct 26 (PTI) The BJP on Monday celebrated the 79th anniversary of Jammu and Kashmir’s accession to the Union of India with patriotic fervour, paying tribute to J-K’s last king, Maharaja Hari Singh.
The Maharaja signed the instrument of accession on October 26, 1947, which brought the erstwhile princely state into the Indian Union.
Addressing a gathering at the party headquarters in Trikuta Nagar, Jammu, BJP president and Rajya Sabha MP Sat Sharma said the accession was a defining moment in the nation’s and Jammu and Kashmir’s history, asserting that the region’s unity and integrity were non-negotiable.
He said October 26 was not merely a date on the calendar but the foundation of Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional and emotional bond with India. Sharma said the Maharaja’s historic decision had secured the state’s future within the Indian Union.
The BJP leader said every citizen should remember the day with pride and reiterated the BJP’s commitment to peace, development, and the dignity of every region and community in Jammu and Kashmir. He also paid tribute to soldiers, security personnel, and civilians who sacrificed their lives to defend the country’s unity and territorial integrity.
Leader of Opposition in the J&K Assembly Sunil Sharma said the accession was complete, final and irrevocable. He said the sacrifices of armed forces personnel and people who stood firm against challenges strengthened the resolve to protect India’s unity. He also stressed the need to familiarise younger generations with the Maharaja’s contribution.
MP Jugal Kishore Sharma called upon party workers to take the message of national unity to every village and ward and ensure that the benefits of development reached the last person in society.
MLA Vikram Randhawa urged people to observe the day with enthusiasm and familiarise young people with Jammu and Kashmir’s history and its place in the Indian Union.
Sat Sharma, Sunil Sharma, Jugal Kishore Sharma, BJP vice-president Rekha Mahajan, general secretary Baldev Singh Billawaria, and other party leaders paid floral tributes at the Maharaja’s statue.
In a separate programme, the Samadhaan Foundation celebrated Accession Day through Adhimilan Utsav 2026 at Jagti village in Nagrota tehsil, the birthplace of Dogra warrior Mian Dido, highlighting the region’s historical and cultural heritage.
Sharma, who attended the event as chief guest, announced that the Centre would seek to develop and preserve Mian Dido’s birthplace under its PRASHAD scheme, aiming to promote it as a heritage destination.
Sharma paid tribute to the Maharaja, Brigadier Rajinder Singh and the soldiers who sacrificed their lives defending Jammu and Kashmir.
Former deputy chief minister Nirmal Singh attended the programme as guest of honour, while Jammu East MLA Yudhvir Sethi was the special guest. Samadhaan Foundation chairperson Pawan Sharma also attended.
Sethi highlighted Mian Dido’s place in Dogra history and called for collective efforts to preserve his legacy and familiarise younger generations with the region’s historical heroes.
Pawan Sharma said the foundation was committed to bringing lesser-known historical figures and cultural traditions into the mainstream through awareness, education and community participation. He urged young people to draw inspiration from Mian Dido’s courage and Brigadier Rajinder Singh’s sacrifice. PTI AB ASD
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