Which of the following statements are correct?
a) Sheikh Abdullah was the leader of the National Conference.
b) National Conference was an Islamic organisation.
c) Sheikh Abdullah was against joining Pakistan.
d) Sheikh Abdullah wanted to get rid of the Maharaja.

a, c and d.

National Conference was a secular organisation.

Before 1947, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) was a Princely State. Its Hindu ruler, Hari Singh, did not want to merge with India and tried to negotiate with India and Pakistan to have an independent status for his state. The Pakistani leaders thought the Kashmir region ‘belonged’ to Pakistan, since majority population of the State was Muslim. The popular movement in the State, led by Sheikh Abdullah of the National Conference, wanted to get rid of the Maharaja, but was against joining Pakistan. The National Conference was a secular organisation and had a long association with the Congress.