After L K Advani's salvo at Jawaharlal Nehru over his alleged reluctance to send troops to Kashmir in 1948, Senior journalist Prem Shankar Jha today said the "real disagreement" between him and Sardar Vallabhai Patel was not over whether to send the army in but when and under what circumstances.
Jha said this while seeking to set the record straight, a day after the BJP stalwart alleged that Nehru, the country's first prime minister, was reluctant to send army to Kashmir in 1947 even as Pakistani troops approached, but Patel, the then Home Minister, prevailed over him.
The comments by Advani in his latest blog quoting Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw from the interview given to Jha for his book stoked a potential controversy, days after the BJP leader claimed that Nehru had called Patel a "total communalist" for insisting on police action against the Nizam in 1948.
Citing the interview given in December 1993, Advani concluded that 'even on sending the army into J and K following the attack on J and K by tribesmen and Pakistan in 1947, Nehru had similar reservations(as on Hyderabad six months later)'
"Since my book has provided the ammunition for his salvo, I would like to set the record straight," Jha said in a statement.
Jha, however, noted that Advani has reproduced Manekshaw's interview with complete "fidelity" and that his conclusion that Nehru had differences with Patel over sending the army into Kashmir is also true.
"But it is not the whole truth. The real disagreement between them was not over whether to send the army in but when, and under what circumstances," he added.
Quoting from an interview of Manekshaw (then a Colonel) by Jha, Advani said in the blog that as the tribesmen-- supported by Pakistani forces--moved closer to Srinagar, a decision had to be taken on moving Indian forces there.
However, Nehru appeared reluctant and felt the issue should be taken to the UN.
Referring to Manekshaw's claim in the interview, Advani said Lord Mountbatten called a Cabinet meeting soon after Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession. This was attended by Nehru, Patel and defence minister Baldev Singh.
Manekshaw presented the "military situation" in the meeting and suggested the Indian forces be moved there.
