Rajnath Singh Talks Peace with Pakistan and Praises Jammu and Kashmir Elections
Rajouri (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], September 22: Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh emphasized India’s desire for peaceful relations with its neighbors, including Pakistan, but stressed that dialogue with Pakistan depends on its commitment to stopping terrorism against India.
Remembering Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Speaking at a public rally, Singh remembered former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, highlighting his focus on humanity, democracy, and Kashmiriyat. Singh criticized local political parties for prioritizing politics over these values.
Conditions for Dialogue with Pakistan
Singh stated, “We want good relations with all our neighboring countries, even with Pakistan. But they are encouraging terrorism. How can we maintain good relations when they continue to promote terrorism? If they guarantee they will not launch terrorism on Indian soil, we are ready to engage in dialogue with them.”
Response to Pakistan’s Defence Minister
In response to Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif supporting the Congress-NC alliance’s stance on Article 370, Singh said the government would not allow Pakistan’s “evil agenda” to succeed in Jammu and Kashmir.
High Voter Turnout
Singh pointed to the high voter turnout in the first phase of Jammu and Kashmir’s assembly elections as a sign of positive changes in the region. “More than 61 per cent of votes were cast in 24 seats here. People came out of their homes and voted without any fear,” he noted.
Restoring Statehood
On the issue of restoring Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, Singh accused the Congress party of “misleading” the people by claiming they would restore statehood if they came to power. He reiterated that Prime Minister Modi had already promised statehood before the elections.
Pakistan’s Economic Troubles
Singh also took a jab at Pakistan’s economic situation, noting that Pakistan is currently pleading for a USD 7 billion bailout package from the IMF.
Significance of Ongoing Elections
While speaking in Poonch, Singh highlighted the significance of the ongoing elections in Jammu and Kashmir, which are being held after a decade. He noted the high voter turnout as a sign of change.
Election Details
Jammu and Kashmir is voting for its 90-member assembly in three phases. The first phase of voting took place on September 18, with a voter turnout of 61.13%. Voting for the second and third phases will be held on September 25 and October 1, respectively, with votes counted on October 8.
Doubts Revealed
Rajnath Singh -: Rajnath Singh is a senior Indian politician and the current Defence Minister of India. He is responsible for the country’s defense and military matters.
Pakistan -: Pakistan is a neighboring country of India. Sometimes, there are tensions between the two countries, but they also try to have peaceful relations.
Jammu and Kashmir -: Jammu and Kashmir is a region in northern India. It has special importance and has seen conflicts in the past, but now people are voting in elections to choose their leaders.
Union Defence Minister -: The Union Defence Minister is the person in charge of the defense and military of India. Right now, that person is Rajnath Singh.
terrorism -: Terrorism means using violence to scare people and achieve political goals. India wants Pakistan to stop supporting such activities.
voter turnout -: Voter turnout means the number of people who come out to vote in an election. High voter turnout means many people are participating in choosing their leaders.
assembly elections -: Assembly elections are when people vote to choose their local government leaders in a state or region, like Jammu and Kashmir.
Congress -: Congress is one of the major political parties in India. Sometimes, different parties have different opinions and criticize each other.
statehood -: Statehood means being recognized as a state with its own government. Some people in Jammu and Kashmir want it to be a state again.
economic troubles -: Economic troubles mean having problems with money and the economy, like not having enough jobs or resources. Rajnath Singh mentioned that Pakistan is facing such issues.