Amidst the ongoing election campaign in Jammu and Kashmir, the Union Defence Minister of India, Rajnath Singh, urged the PoK residents to leave Pakistan and join India. On Sunday, the Cabinet minister claimed that PoK would soon become a part of India. While addressing the public rally in J&K's Ramban district, he cited an affidavit filled out by Pakistan's solicitor general, which stated PoK as a foreign land. Singh assured the PoK residents that India considers them as its own, unlike Pakistan, which labels them as foreigners.

"I want to tell PoK residents that Pakistan is considering you foreigner but the people in India do not consider you as such. We consider you as our own and so come and join us," Singh said.

The union territory is set for the polls in the latter half of September. The BJP has appointed its best force to triumph India's crown. Meanwhile, the National Conference-Congress alliance also places their A-game on the table. They have assured the reversal of Article 370 if they come into power.

The Defence Minister, during his address, said, “Once our government is formed in Jammu and Kashmir, we will carry out development that will make the people of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) want to become part of India.”

PoK residents
Image Source: Wikipedia

"Support the BJP to form the next government in J&K so that we can facilitate massive development in the region. There will be so much development that the people in PoK on seeing this should say that we do not want to live with Pakistan and instead will go to India," he added. 

He further dismissed the opposition's claim of restoring Article 370. According to him, until the BJP is in power, this reversal is not possible.

Amit Shah's statement

Union Home Minister Amit Shah released the manifesto for J&K's assembly poll, during which he claimed that Article 370 is history and will never come back again. During his speech, Shah dismissed the opposition's agenda of restoring Article 370.

The Union Home Minister also ruled out talks of trade with Pakistan during his speech. He said, “Talks and terror can’t go together.”.

“No question of trade with Pakistan till terrorism is there. We will talk to the youth of Kashmir not Pakistan unless the country stops terrorism,” the BJP leader said.

Shah has previously stated in the Indian Parliament that the Narendra Modi government was prepared to sacrifice itself for PoK. 

S Jaishankar's stance on Pakistan

The BJP leaders have been quite expressive while addressing the question of Pakistan. Earlier this month, when External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was asked about the government's approach on dealing with Pakistan, he took a similar stance.

"The era of uninterrupted dialogue with Pakistan is over. Actions have consequences," said Jaishankar.

"So far as J&K is concerned, Article 370 is done. So, the issue is what kind of relationship we can contemplate with Pakistan...What I do want to say is that we are not passive, and whether events take a positive or a negative direction, either way, we will react," he added.  

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