Defence Minister Rajnath Singh made a strong appeal to the residents of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) to join India, emphasising that, unlike Pakistan, India treats the people of PoK as its own. Speaking at a public rally in Jammu’s Ramban district as part of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) campaign for the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections, Singh expressed confidence that after seeing the development in Jammu and Kashmir under BJP rule, PoK residents would prefer to be part of India.
He highlighted that while Pakistan treats PoK residents as outsiders, India has always considered them as part of its family. Singh also pointed out that the abrogation of Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, was done for the region’s prosperity, contrary to the opposition’s claims of discrimination. He dismissed accusations from the National Conference (NC), People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and Congress, asserting that the BJP has always aimed for the welfare of Jammu and Kashmir without any bias.
Singh assured that under BJP governance, Jammu and Kashmir could become India’s top state within a decade. He credited BJP’s development initiatives and highlighted India’s economic growth, noting that the country had risen to the 5th largest economy globally and is expected to reach the 3rd position by 2027. Singh expressed pride in India’s progress and stated that international financial institutions now recognize the country’s rapid growth.
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He further expressed confidence that the BJP would form the government in Jammu and Kashmir with a clear majority in the upcoming elections. Singh shared his optimism, reflecting on his recent visit to the USA, where members of the Indian diaspora expressed their faith in BJP’s victory in the region.
The upcoming Jammu and Kashmir elections, set to take place in three phases from September 18 to October 1, will be the first assembly elections held since the abrogation of Article 370. The counting of votes is scheduled for October 8.
