J&K Polls — Rajnath Singh Urges PoK Residents To Join India At Ramban Rally: 'We Consider You As Our Own...'

Defence Minister Singh, campaigning for the BJP, also criticised the Congress-National Conference alliance's promise to restore Article 370.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during BJP's campaign in Ramban ahead of Jammu and Kashmir polls.

Source : PTI

The Defence Minister made the statement during an election rally in the Ramban assembly constituency, campaigning in support of BJP candidate Rakesh Singh Thakur. During his address, Singh trained guns on the National Conference-Congress alliance over its poll promise of restoring Article 370 and said it is impossible as long as the BJP is there.

He also welcomed the "sea change" in the overall security situation in Jammu and Kashmir after Article 370 was struck down. Youths now carry laptops and computers instead of pistols and revolvers, he said. 

"Support the BJP to form the next government in J-K so that we can facilitate massive development in the region," said the defence minister. "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 pointed out an affidavit recently filed by the additional solicitor general in the neighbouring country stating that PoK is a foreign land.

"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," he said.

Attacking the National Conference, Singh accused the party of sympathising with terrorists and questioned Omar Abdullah, asking if Afzal Guru should have been garlanded.

“The National Conference has shown sympathy towards terrorists. I recently heard what Omar Abdullah said, that Afzal Guru should not have been hanged. I want to ask him, should Afzal Guru have been garlanded instead," questioned the BJP leader. 

The Defence Minister's high-profile campaign stop for the BJP follows closely on the heels of Home Minister Amit Shah's whirlwind two-day visit, which included unveiling the party's election manifesto, conferring with top party brass, and energizing the party's grassroots supporters with a spirited address."