Renzushah holds deliberations with Prof Soz over his book ‘Sardar Patel aur Kashmir’

Srinagar, Nov 22: The Kashmir Society International has announced that its patron Farooq Renzushah held a detailed interaction with Congress leader and former Union Minister Saiffudin Soz over the latters recently released book “Sardar Patel aur Kashmir”. He discussed in detail important contents of his book and other related issues during an enlightening discussion, said a press release.

The interactive session, which took place prior to the launch of Prof Soz’s highly anticipated book on Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, has ignited conversations across the country, it said. During this candid dialogue, Prof Soz shed light on Sardar Patel's complex position regarding Kashmir. He revealed that Patel was initially inclined to transfer control of the region to Pakistan. However, he paradoxically opposed the stopping of Indian forces along the ceasefire line drawn at the borders of Doemail, said the press release. It said Soz accepted that Sardar Patel “criticised Sheikh Abdullah and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru for their ceasefire decisions which was uncalled for.” “Prof. A notable highlight of their conversation involved Prof. Soz’s personal account of his parliamentary experience, where he once cast the decisive vote that brought down PM Vajpayee’s government, stating “that it is in record that while directly addressing to. PM Vajpayee in Parliament on occasion of vote of no confidence he told him in Parliament that he could not extend his support to a leader whose party was steeped in anti-minority sentiment guided by RSS founder Govalkar.”

Notably, earlier this week, historians, political commentators and veteran Journalists, who took centre stage at the launch of Saifuddin Soz’s book “Sardar Patel aur Kashmir”, said that the former Deputy Prime Minister of India and political stalwart Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was a multi-faceted personality, who played a crucial role with regard to Kashmir’s political affairs.