Lucknow | December 15, 2025

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday blamed India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru for making the Kashmir issue controversial, claiming that the decisions taken at the time led to the rise of extremism and separatism in the region. He said the impact of those decisions is still being felt by the country decades after Independence.

Adityanath made these remarks while addressing an event held to mark the 75th death anniversary of India’s first Home Minister, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Speaking about the process of integrating princely states into the Indian Union, he highlighted Patel’s role in bringing together more than 560 princely states after Independence.

The Chief Minister said that most Hindu princely states willingly agreed to become part of the Republic of India. However, he pointed out that the Nawab of Junagadh and the Nizam of Hyderabad refused to join India initially. According to Adityanath, these two states posed major challenges during the integration process.

He said that both Junagadh and Hyderabad were eventually merged into India through what he described as bloodless revolutions. Adityanath credited Sardar Patel’s wisdom and leadership for resolving these issues without prolonged conflict, calling his role decisive in shaping a united India.

Referring to Jammu and Kashmir, Adityanath said there was deep uncertainty about the future of the princely state at the time of Independence. He alleged that Jawaharlal Nehru took personal control of the matter and handled it in a way that created long-term problems for the country.

“So, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru took the matter into his own hands. He made Jammu and Kashmir so controversial that it continued to sting India even after Independence,” Adityanath said. He further claimed that extremism and separatism emerged from Kashmir because of Nehru’s decisions, using the Hindi terms “ugravaad” and “algaavaad” to underline his point.

The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said that the country had to face years of unrest and instability as a result of what he described as flawed handling of the Kashmir issue. He added that the situation remained unresolved for decades and affected national unity and security.

Adityanath went on to praise Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying the country is grateful to him for fulfilling the vision of leaders like Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Syama Prasad Mookerjee. He said the abrogation of Article 370 marked a turning point in India’s approach to Jammu and Kashmir.

According to Adityanath, the removal of Article 370 made Jammu and Kashmir an integral part of India in both spirit and law. He said this step strengthened the idea of “one nation, one constitution and one flag” and helped move the country closer to the goals envisioned by Patel and Mookerjee.

While paying tribute to Sardar Patel, Adityanath recalled his contribution to India’s freedom struggle and nation-building. Born in Nadiad, Gujarat, in 1875, Patel played a key role in uniting the country after Independence. As the first Home Minister of India, he led efforts to integrate princely states into the Indian Union, ensuring political unity at a critical moment in history.

Patel passed away in 1950, but Adityanath said his legacy continues to guide the nation. He described Patel as a symbol of strong leadership and decisive action, whose approach, he said, remains relevant even today.

The remarks made by Adityanath are likely to spark political debate, as discussions around the historical handling of the Kashmir issue continue to draw strong and differing opinions across the country.

Yogi Adityanath Blames Nehru for Kashmir Dispute, Says Extremism and Separatism Emerged Due to Early Decisions

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday made strong remarks on the Kashmir issue, blaming India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru for turning it into a long-standing controversy. Speaking in Lucknow on December 15, Adityanath said that decisions taken in the early years after Independence led to extremism and separatism emerging from Jammu and Kashmir, the effects of which are still felt today.

The Chief Minister was addressing a gathering on the 75th death anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India’s first Home Minister. During his speech, Adityanath spoke at length about the integration of princely states into the Indian Union after Independence. He said that more than 560 princely states were merged successfully, largely due to Patel’s leadership and vision.

Adityanath pointed out that while most Hindu princely states agreed to join India willingly, Junagadh and Hyderabad initially refused. He said both were eventually integrated through what he described as bloodless revolutions, crediting Sardar Patel’s wisdom for resolving these challenges without prolonged conflict.

Referring to Jammu and Kashmir, Adityanath said there was uncertainty about its future at the time of Independence. He alleged that Jawaharlal Nehru handled the matter personally and made it controversial, leading to decades of unrest. According to him, the country received “ugravaad” (extremism) and “algaavaad” (separatism) from Kashmir due to these early decisions.

The Chief Minister also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying the abrogation of Article 370 fulfilled the dreams of Sardar Patel and Syama Prasad Mookerjee. He said this step strengthened the idea of one nation, one constitution and one flag.

Sardar Patel, born in 1875 in Gujarat, played a key role in uniting India and remains a symbol of strong leadership, Adityanath said.