WATCH: Rajnath Singh says 'PoK humara tha, hai, aur rahega,' people there will demand to be with India

“Chinta maat karo. PoK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir) humara tha, humara hai aur humara rahega (Don’t worry, PoK was, is and will remain ours),” Union Minister and senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh said at a rally in West Bengal’s Darjeeling.

‘People in PoK will themselves demand to be with India’

The minister further said considering the development taking place in India, the people of PoK will themselves demand to come and be recognised internationally and formally as a part of India.

“Aap chinta maat karo Bharat ki takat bhad rahi hai. Bharat ka development jitni tezi ke saath ho raha hai, Bharat ki prathistha antar rashtriya jagat mei jiss tarike se bhad rahi hai, Bharat ki arth vyavastha jitni teezi se aagey bhad rahi hai, aab PoK ke humare bhai, bhen swayam he maang karenge ki hum Bharat ke saath rehna chhahte hai (India’s power is increasing… India’s prestige is increasing in the world. Our economy is fast progressing. Now our brothers and sisters in PoK will themselves demand to come with India,” Singh said.

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#WATCH | Darjeeling, West Bengal: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh says, "Don't worry. PoK was, is, and will remain ours. India's power is increasing...India's prestige is increasing in the world and our economy is fast progressing. Now our brothers and sisters in PoK will… pic.twitter.com/esk8an6o6d

— ANI (@ANI) April 21, 2024

The statement by the minister drew loud cheers from the crowd present at his Darjeeling rally where the BJP has nominated sitting MP Raju Bista in the ongoing Lok Sabha polls 2024.

Singh’s statement comes less than two weeks after he said the way Jammu-Kashmir is heading towards development, he feels that the people of PoK feel that Pakistan cannot lead them towards development, only Prime Minister Narendra Modi can.

Campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections 2024 in Madhya Pradesh’s Satna district, Singh had said: “The way Jammu-Kashmir is heading towards development, I feel that people in PoK think that their development is only possible at the hands of PM Modi and not Pakistan.”

The minister had said PoK was always a part of India and still is.

“The people in PoK might say they want to be with India. PoK was, is and will always be our (India) part," Singh said.

#WATCH | Satna, Madhya Pradesh: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh says, " ...'Bharat main Ram Rajya ka aagaz hokar hi rahega, koi rok nahi sakta hai'...I feel that people in PoK think that their development is only possible at the hands of PM Modi and not Pakistan. The people in PoK… pic.twitter.com/7nXR9rqjsU

— ANI (@ANI) April 11, 2024

Last September, while addressing a press conference as part of BJP ‘Parivartan Yatra’ Union Minister and Indian Army ex-chief VK Singh had also said: “Pakistan-occupied Kashmir will become a part of India on its own, it’s just a matter of time.”

Rajnath Singh slams TMC

Singh, in the election rally in Darjeeling on Sunday, also took a jibe at Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress over the recent incidents in Sandeshkhali. The minister said a government under which women are not safe should not stay in power.

“The law and order situation in West Bengal has deteriorated to a great extent. If you want to develop any state the first condition is to improve the law and situation there. But in West Bengal the situation is different. Look at the incidents in Sandeshkhali. A government under whom women are not safe, should not stay in power,” Singh said.

The Union Minister also said India was taking giant strides in the defence sector, maintaining that the country is fast turning into a defence-equipment exporting nation from that of an importer.

With inputs from agencies