"We have decided to accept this accession and to send troops by air, but we made a
'condition that
the accession would have to be considered by the people of Kashmir later when peace and
order
were established. We were anxious not to finalise anything in a moment of crisis, and
without the
fullest opportunity to the people of Kashmir to have their say. It was for them ultimately
to decide.
"And here let me make clear that it has been our policy all along that where there is
a dispute about
the accession of a State to either Dominion, the decision must be made by the people of
the State. It was in accordance with this policy that we added a proviso to the Instrument
of Accession of
Kashmir.
"We have declared that the fate of Kashmir is ultimately to be decided by the people.
That pledge
we have given, and the Maharaja has supported it not only to the people of Kashmir but the
world.
We will not, and cannot back out of it. We are prepared when peace and law and order have
been
established to have a referendum held under international auspices like the United
Nations. We want it to be a fair and just reference to the people, and we shall accept
their verdict. I can imagine no fairer and juster offer."
Return to Jammu and Kashmir Page