Srinagar: Ahead of elections in Jammu & Kashmir, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh appealed residents of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) to join India.
Addressing an election rally in Ramban constituency of Jammu & Kashmir, Rajnath said unlike in Pakistan where they are treated as “foreigners”, PoK residents are considered “our own”.
“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,” the Defence minister said.
He asserted that J & K will be made the most developed state of the country, and “PoJK will soon be part of India.”
He referred to a recent affidavit filed by Pakistan’s additional solicitor general, which stated that PoK was foreign territory.
“I want to tell PoK residents that Pakistan considers you foreigners, but the people in India do not consider you so. We consider you our own and so come and join us,” Rajnath said.
Polling in Jammu & Kashmir for the 90 Assembly constituencies will be held in three phases — September 18, September 25 and October 1. Counting of votes will take place on October 8.
