Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Urges PoK People to Join India During Rally in Jammu & Kashmir
Ramban (Jammu & Kashmir) [India], September 8: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh spoke at a rally in Ramban, urging the people of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) to join India. He emphasized that India considers the people of PoK as their own, unlike Pakistan.
Call for Development
Rajnath Singh encouraged the formation of a BJP government in Jammu & Kashmir, stating that the development in the region would inspire PoK residents to prefer joining India over staying with Pakistan. He said, “People in Pakistan consider PoK people as foreigners, but India considers the people of PoK as our own. Come and join us.”
Article 370 and Prosperity
He highlighted the abrogation of Article 370, claiming it was done for the prosperity of Jammu & Kashmir. He refuted claims by the National Conference, People’s Democratic Party, and Congress that the BJP has discriminated against the people of the Union Territory.
“We have never discriminated with anyone. Our Army is here. I want to ask you, do they discriminate? You people are fortunate; we have abrogated Article 370–we have done that for the prosperity and happiness of J&K. What did Article 370 give to you?”
Future of Jammu & Kashmir
Rajnath Singh expressed confidence that Jammu & Kashmir would become the number one state in India if the BJP remains in power for ten years. He also mentioned India’s rapid economic progress, stating that by 2027, India would be the third-largest economy in the world.
Upcoming Elections
Polling in Jammu & Kashmir will be held in three phases: September 18, September 25, and October 1, with vote counting on October 8. The National Conference and Congress have formed a pre-poll alliance. There are 90 assembly constituencies, with 7 seats reserved for SCs and 9 for STs. This will be the first assembly election in Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370.
In the previous elections, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) won 28 seats, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured 25, the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) won 15, and the Congress won 12.
Doubts Revealed
Defence Minister -: The Defence Minister is a person in the government who is responsible for the country’s military and defense matters. In India, this person helps make decisions about the army, navy, and air force.
Rajnath Singh -: Rajnath Singh is a senior leader in the Indian government and a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He is currently serving as the Defence Minister of India.
Rally -: A rally is a large public meeting where people gather to listen to speeches, often about political issues. In this case, it was a meeting where Rajnath Singh spoke to people in Jammu & Kashmir.
Jammu & Kashmir -: Jammu & Kashmir is a region in northern India. It has been a subject of dispute between India and Pakistan for many years.
Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) -: Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) is a part of the Kashmir region that is currently controlled by Pakistan. India claims this area as its own.
Abrogation of Article 370 -: Article 370 was a special law that gave Jammu & Kashmir more autonomy than other Indian states. The Indian government removed this special status in 2019 to integrate the region more closely with the rest of India.
BJP -: BJP stands for Bharatiya Janata Party, which is one of the major political parties in India. It is currently the ruling party in the Indian government.
Discrimination -: Discrimination means treating someone unfairly or differently because of certain characteristics like race, religion, or gender. In this context, it refers to claims that the BJP treats people in Jammu & Kashmir unfairly.
Elections -: Elections are a process where people vote to choose their leaders or representatives. In this case, elections are being held to choose leaders in Jammu & Kashmir.
Three phases -: Three phases mean that the elections will be conducted in three separate stages or parts, rather than all at once. This helps manage the voting process better.
Results on October 8 -: This means that the final outcome of the elections, or who won, will be announced on October 8.