BJP to celebrate accession day of J&K as 'Vijay Diwas'

President of the Bhartiya Janta Party, Jammu and Kashmir, Ravinder Raina has announced that the party will celebrate 26th October as "Vijay Diwas"–J&K accession day with the Union of India–with grandeur and splendour.

Raina, while addressing district members of the party in Jammu's Nagrota area, said the day held great significance for the people of the region, especially after the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A–articles which gave Jammu and Kashmir the special status.

He also said that the entire region is ready to celebrate the occasion like 15th August, and BJP activists will proactively take part in the celebrations.

While addressing the meet, former deputy CM of the erstwhile state, Dr. Nirmal Singh said that individual forces made many attempts to alienate the gullible masses and overshadow the importance of the day with their malicious campaigns. He also said that "ill effort" of these individuals won't be successful and the region will celebrate the Vijay Diwas will full enthusiasm.

Jammu and Kashmir had acceded to India in October 1947, after the ruler of the princely state, Maharaja Hari Singh, signed the instrument of accession of October 26. Earlier, the day was observed as a "black day" by separatist groups and their followers, in protest of the human rights violations and the Indian occupation" of Jammu Kashmir.