Join India, we consider you our own: Rajnath to PoK residents

In a powerful address during an election rally on Sunday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh extended a hand of friendship to the residents of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), urging them to join India.

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• Says ready for dialogue with Pakistan if it stops terrorism in J&K

He declared that India considers PoK residents as "our own," in contrast to Pakistan, which, he said, treats them as foreigners. Singh's comments were made in the Ramban Assembly constituency of Jammu and Kashmir, where he was campaigning for BJP candidate Rakesh Singh Thakur. He also said that India is ready to start dialogue with Pakistan if it stops terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.

Speaking before a charged crowd, the senior BJP leader asserted that the security landscape of Jammu and Kashmir had drastically transformed since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, which granted special status to the region. According to Singh, the region is witnessing unprecedented peace and development.

"There is a sea change in the overall security situation in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370.

Today, youths are holding laptops and computers in their hands instead of pistols and revolvers. No one dares to fire bullets in Srinagar anymore," he proclaimed, drawing applause from the audience.

The Union minister's remarks come amid election fervour in the region, where the BJP is hoping to make significant gains. Singh appealed to voters to back the BJP in forming the next government, emphasising that the party's vision for development would make Jammu and Kashmir a model state. He added that the progress made in the region would attract even the residents of Pok to want to be part of India.