Speaking on the second day of the Republic Summit, Union Home Minister Amit Shah responded to anchor Arnab Goswami’s question about the government’s ‘plan of action’ to recover Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). Amit Shah said that such ‘plan of action’ to reclaim PoK should be carried out furtively at a suitable time like the abrogation of Article 370 and should not be a subject of discussion on National television.
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“Matters such as securing Pakistan occupied Kashmir from the grasp of the neighbouring country is an issue of national security and thus it should not be discussed on national television. Such discussions do not happen in public. However, I do believe that an appropriate ‘plan of action’ should be set in motion at the right time just like the abrogation of Article 370,” Shah said.
Talking about his aggressive demeanour, Shah clarified that the aggression exhibited by him is not directed towards any political party or politician in particular but towards the disorder and insecurity bedevilling the country. Shah explained in detail about the singular incident as to why he bristled at Ghulam Nabi Azad in the lower house of the parliament during the discussion of the abrogation of Article 370.
“He (Azad) raised a doubt on the country’s parliamentary competence to legislate a law on Kashmir. It was then that I stood up and asked if he considers Jammu and Kashmir as a part of India or not. If Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and lies within India’s jurisdiction, then the Indian parliament is competent enough to legislate a law on it. Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan occupied Kashmir are integral parts of the country. Not just me but crores of Indians will be ready to give up their life for Kashmir.,” Shah declaimed.
In the aftermath of the abrogation of Article 370, many senior BJP leaders declared that India should now set her eyes upon Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK). Subramanian Swamy said that after scrapping of Article 370, the next thing on the government’s agenda should be reclaiming PoK back.
Union Minister Giriraj Singh too echoed similar sentiments claiming that Pakistan occupied Kashmir and Aksai Chin will soon be integrated with India. Union Minister of Defence, Rajnath Singh warned Pakistan to mend their ways or risk losing PoK just like they lost East Pakistan in the war of 1971. Singh further asserted that any future talks with Pakistan will be on Pakistan occupied Kashmir and not on Jammu and Kashmir. PM Modi has himself made it amply clear that Pakistan has illegally occupied its administered Kashmir and he remains hopeful of recovering it back.
