question_answer

Describe any three obstacles that delayed the merger of Jammu and Kashmir with India.

Or

Describe any three points of consensus that emerged among most political parties in India in spite of sever competition and conflicts.

Answer:

The obstacles that delayed the merger of Jammu and Kashmir with India:

(i) Jammu and Kashmir?s Hindu ruler Maharaja Hari Singh did not want to merge with India and declared its independtly princely state.

(ii) On the other hand, the Pakistani leaders thought that since a great majority of the population of the state was Muslim, the state should merge with Pakistan.

(iii) Pakistan sent tribal infiltrations to capture Kashmir. This forced Maharaja Hari Singh to ask India for military help. India extended military help only after Maharaja has signed the Instrument of Accession with the government of India.

(iv) As a result of the tribal invasion of the state in 1947, a part of the state came under Pakistan?s occupation which is known as Azad Kashmir.

Or

The consensus that emerged among most political parties in India in spite of severe competition and conflicts:

(i) First agreement of new economic policies while many groups are opposed to the new economic policies, most political parties are in support of the new economic policies. Most parties believe that these policies would lead the country to prosperity and a status of economic power in the world.

(ii) Second, acceptance of the political and social claims of the backward castes - political parties have recognized that the social and political claims of the backward castes need to be accepted. As a result all political parties now support reservation of seats for the backward classes in the education and employment. Political parties are also willing to ensure that the OBCs get adequate share of power.

(iii) Third, acceptance of the role of state level parties in governance of the country - the distinction between state level and national level parties is fast becoming less important. State level parties are sharing power at the national level and have played a central role in the country?s, politics of last twenty years or so.

(iv) Emphasis on pragmatic considerations rather than ideological positions and political alliances without political agreementoalition politics has shifted the focus of political parties from ideological differences to power sharing arrangements.