Defence Minister Rajnath Singh commended the people of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday for their enthusiastic participation in the first phase of the Assembly elections, held on September 18, with a voter turnout of over 61%, the highest in 30 years. He remarked that the strong democratic engagement in the region has caused discomfort in Pakistan, especially after the abrogation of Article 370.
Addressing a rally in support of BJP candidate Choudhary Abdul Gani, Singh took aim at opposition parties, accusing the National Conference (NC), Congress, and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) of misleading the public with promises to restore Article 370, which was repealed by the central government in 2019. “The NC, Congress, and PDP are acting as proxies for Pakistan by discussing the restoration of Article 370 in their manifestoes,” Singh said.
The defence minister pointed to Pakistan’s internal turmoil, suggesting that its leaders are focusing on Jammu and Kashmir to divert attention from their problems. He referenced a statement from Pakistan’s Defence Minister, Khawaja Asif, where Asif expressed alignment with the NC-Congress alliance on Article 370, questioning Pakistan’s interference in India’s internal matters.
Singh also highlighted the sentiments in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), where he claimed residents are eager to join India, impressed by the region’s progress under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
Drawing on former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s words—”hum dost badal sakte hain, humsaaye nahi” (we can change friends but not neighbours)—Singh expressed India’s willingness for peaceful relations with Pakistan, provided it “treads the right path.” However, he reaffirmed that the restoration of Article 370 would not happen under the BJP’s rule.
He also touched on the challenges Jammu and Kashmir faced over the years due to Article 370, stating that 80% of those killed in the region’s violence were Muslims. He vowed that if BJP comes to power, it would transform Jammu and Kashmir into the most developed region in India within a decade.
Singh concluded by praising the cultural unity of Kashmir and lamenting that local politicians have divided the region for political gain.
He promised that under Modi’s leadership, Jammu and Kashmir would see an end to divisive politics, focusing instead on progress and national unity.
