RATNA CHOTRANI
Hyderabad: The Congress today may be divided in the opinion on abrogation of Article 370 but the late Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao who was the long standing leader of the Congress was perhaps among the only Prime Ministers from Congress to raise the issue from ramparts of the Red Fort on independence day during his tenure.
Disclosing this here today N.V. Subhash Grandson of late P.V. Narasimha rao who many are aware was not a member of the Nehru family. He was, however, the first prime minister from south of the Vindhyas, lasted a full term in office, and began the transformation of India through the economic reforms initiated by him
Reminiscing the occasion as the Article 370 has been scrapped by the BJP Government N.V. Subhash congratulating the BJP and the Prime Minister for his successful achievement and promise fulfilled to the people as made in the Election manifesto since years , said that it was only P.V. Narasimha Rao who was the only Congress head to think of the Article whereas Congress through decades have just ignored it even though the Article was temporary in nature .
He recalled that the Prime Minister P.V.Narasimha Rao once called General K.V. Krishna Rao on phone after his retirement when he was in Hyderabad .The General (retd) asked the called who he was . To this P.V. Narasimha Rao replied that it was P.V. Narasimha Rao speaking . The General did not give it a thought that it could be the Prime Minister and asked who P.V. NArasimha Rao.? The then Prime Minister then told him that he was P.V. Narasimha Rao the Prime Minister . General K.V. Krishna Rao asked whether it was true that the caller was Prime Minister himself. To that the latter told him to come and meet him at Delhi.
Gen. K.V. Krishna Rao (retd) said that he had retired from service and that he had nothing to do at Delhi. But if you ask me to come I will come .The then Prime Minister had asked him to come . After three days he went to Delhi and spoke to P.V. Narasimha Rao on Jammu and Kashmir for nearly three hours . He explained about the issues confronting Jammu and Kashmir as he had commanded the region during his various positions he held in the Army .
P.V. Narasimha Rao asked him to go to Jammu and Kashmir and settle the issue . The General wondered why he should go there as no one would recognize him post retirement . He however did not want to let the Prime Minister down said that he would go for a few days and present him full report on his return. When he was about to leave P.V. Narasimha rao asked him why was he not staying there for a while . General K.V. Krishna Rao said that he had know one there and that there was an Army guest house where he could stay for perhaps 10 to 15 days .
Pat came the reply GO there as the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir and this is how he was made the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir .Jammu and Kashmir and Pumnjab were on surge then and PV. Wanted to settle tthese issues . K.V. Krishna Rao did bring peace to the valley . Rest is history the situation turned worst later and it is the BJP Government which decided to repeal Article 370 of the Indian Constitution that grants special status to the state. In 1994 P.V. Narasimha Rao spoke from Red fort about Jammu and Kashmir .
(As told by N.V. Subhash bjp leader and grandson of the P.V. Narasimha Rao .