People by and large believe that Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah was dethroned and arrested on August 9, 1953, for resisting moves aimed at diluting the autonomy of the state. However, his colleague and member Constituent Assembly, Abdul Gani Goni, narrated an entirely different story in an interview with Kashmir Post some time before his death last year. According to him, Sheikh’s July 13, 1953, speech is very significant. Sheikh had said, “These martyrs have prepared us for bigger sacrifices to achieve our freedom and our right of self-determination. If required, our…
Read MoreAugust 9, 1953: When Sheikh’s arrest changed Kashmir for ever
