'Credit for J

New Delhi, Jun 23 (UNI) Leader of Opposition L K Advani today said the credit for bringing Jammu and Kashmir into the fold of Indian constitution needs to go to late Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, the founder of Jansangh, who made great sacrifices for integrating the northern most state with the rest of the country.

Mr Advani said Mukherjee fought for giving a practical shape to his famous slogan that the country would not accept a system which allowed 'two Prime Ministers, two Constitutions and two National Flags' (Ek desh mein Do Pradhan, Do Vidhan and Do Nishan Nahi Chalegi Nahi Chalengi).

The former Deputy Prime Minister was releasing a compilation of Presidential Addresses of all the BJS Presidents, starting with Mukherjee's days in 1951.

Mr Advani noted that Mukherjee was the last BJS President before it merged with the the Janata Party in 1977.

He said Mukherjee was Industries Minister in the Jawaharlal Nehru's Cabinet who had entered Jammu and Kashmir without permit.

His death prompted the government of the time to amend the constitution bringing Jammu and Kashmir under the ambit of Indian Constitution.

Until 1953, institutions such as the Supreme Court, Parliament and Election Commission were not applicable to the State, as it had its own constitution, he said.

He said but for the outstanding role played by Sardar Patel, India's first Home Minister, in assimilating with the Indian Union the 500-odd warring royal principalities, the nation would have splintered into pieces.

Mr Advani said the Congress... Eds here picking up from line one of DI 41, 'POLITICS-ADVANI-J &K TWO LAST NEW DELHI'.

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