As Jammu and Kashmir prepares to mark the 79th anniversary of its accession to India on 26 October, a fresh controversy has erupted over 'Free Kashmir' slogans that appeared on the walls of Jamia Millia Islamia University in New Delhi, reigniting a debate about who keeps this demand alive and why. The episode has drawn sharp political responses and raised renewed questions about the persistent resurgence of a slogan that challenges the settled constitutional status of the Union Territory.

The Jamia Incident and Political Fallout

Students at Jamia Millia Islamia had been on a hunger strike demanding restoration of student union elections when graffiti reading 'Free Kashmir' and 'Free Sharjeel Imam' appeared on campus walls, turning the agitation into a separate political flashpoint. The Indian National Congress (INC) distanced itself from the slogans, calling them unrelated to the student protest and demanding action against those responsible. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), however, alleged that opposition leaders were shielding individuals facing serious charges and pointed to what it described as a larger conspiracy behind the episode.

This is not the first time such slogans have surfaced at Indian universities. Similar incidents have been reported at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and Jadavpur University in recent years, often appearing alongside 'Free Palestine' messaging. Critics argue the pattern suggests organised effort rather than spontaneous expression.

The History Behind the Accession

Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession on 26 October 1947, following a tribal invasion that began on 22 October 1947, carried out by raiders backed by Pakistan. Faced with looting, violence and the rapid advance of these forces, the Maharaja sought India's military assistance. India accepted the accession the following day, and troops were airlifted to Srinagar to repel the invaders.

Significantly, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah — who later became the state's Prime Minister and is the father of National Conference President and former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah — also supported the accession at the time, lending it broad political legitimacy.

Post-2019 Changes and Security Improvements

The political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir changed fundamentally on 5 August 2019, when the Narendra Modi-led government abrogated Article 370, revoked the region's special constitutional status and reorganised it into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The decision drew strong reactions but has since been followed by measurable changes on the ground.

According to data cited by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs in July 2024, organised stone-pelting incidents fell from 1,328 in 2018 to zero in 2023. Organised hartals declined from 52 to zero over the same period. Terrorist-initiated incidents dropped from 228 in 2018 to approximately 35 in 2025. Tourist footfall reportedly crossed 1.77 crore visitors in 2025. Notably, the threat of terrorism has not been eliminated, and analysts caution against reading these figures as grounds for complacency.

Infrastructure and Development Push

The post-2019 period has also seen major infrastructure investments in the region. The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link, the Vande Bharat Express service and the Zojila Tunnel project are among the flagship connectivity initiatives underway. The UT now hosts an AIIMS, an IIT and an IIM, expanding educational opportunities for local youth. Tourism has become an increasingly significant pillar of the regional economy.

The return and safety of displaced Kashmiri Pandits to their ancestral homes remains an unresolved and sensitive issue that continues to draw attention from policymakers and civil society alike.

Farooq Abdullah's Remarks and the Broader Context

Adding to the political temperature, National Conference President Farooq Abdullah made pointed remarks at his party's workers' convention in Baramullah. 'They (the Indian state) are silent today due to pressure from the world. Our neighbour goes everywhere and says that the Kashmir issue has not been resolved. They are protecting us. Otherwise, their intentions are not right,' he said, according to reports.

The remarks, coming on the eve of the 79th Accession Day, have added fresh fuel to the political debate. There is a recognised distinction, analysts note, between legitimate questions about governance and slogans that challenge the legal and historical basis of Jammu and Kashmir's accession to India — a demand that was settled by the Maharaja's own decision in 1947.

As the anniversary arrives, the question of who continues to give these slogans a platform — and why — is likely to remain at the centre of India's political conversation in the days ahead.