Jammu: India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called on residents of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) to join India, stating, “We consider you as our own, unlike Pakistan which treats you as foreigners.” Singh made these remarks during an election rally in Ramban assembly constituency in support of BJP candidate Rakesh Singh Thakur.
Singh criticized the National Conference-Congress alliance for their election promise to restore Article 370, asserting that such a move is impossible while the BJP is in power. He highlighted the significant improvement in security in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, noting a shift from violence to technology among the youth.
He urged support for the BJP to enable further development in the region, suggesting that the progress would encourage PoK residents to reconsider their affiliation with Pakistan and join India. Singh referenced a recent affidavit by the additional solicitor general of Pakistan that labeled PoK as foreign territory, reaffirming India’s stance on considering PoK residents as part of their own.
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Singh’s visit follows a two-day tour by Home Minister Amit Shah, who released the BJP’s manifesto, met with senior party leaders, and addressed a workers’ rally. Singh is also campaigning for BJP candidates in adjacent constituencies, including Banihal, where he is supporting Mohd Saleem Bhat against former Pradesh Congress Committee president Vikar Rasool Wani, who is seeking a third consecutive win.
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