Rajnath’s Remark on ‘Not Taking PoK’ Should be Condemned: Raut
In a recent address in the Lok Sabha, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh made a comment that has sparked controversy and outrage. While discussing Operation Sindoor, a covert operation carried out by the Indian Army in 1971, Singh stated that the intention of the operation was not to take control of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). This remark has been strongly condemned by Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, who has called for the statement to be condemned.
Raut’s reaction to Singh’s comment is not without merit. The idea that India’s intention was never to take control of PoK is a troubling one, especially considering the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan over the disputed region. For decades, India has been demanding that Pakistan vacate PoK, which has been under Pakistani control since the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947.
Singh’s statement can be seen as a major departure from India’s long-standing position on PoK. It is a region that is an integral part of Jammu and Kashmir, a state that has been the subject of a long-standing dispute between India and Pakistan. The people of PoK have been living under Pakistani control for over seven decades, and have been denied basic human rights and freedoms.
Raut’s condemnation of Singh’s remark is not limited to the fact that it undermines India’s position on PoK. He has also implied that the statement reflects a lack of commitment to the idea of ‘Akhand Bharat’, or a united India. This is a notion that has been championed by various right-wing groups and politicians in India, who believe that all of Jammu and Kashmir, including PoK, should be part of a single Indian state.
The idea of ‘Akhand Bharat’ is not without its problems. It is a notion that is deeply rooted in Hindu nationalist ideology, and has been used to justify aggressive military actions against Pakistan. It is also a notion that has been used to marginalize and suppress the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, who have been fighting for greater autonomy and self-determination.
Singh’s statement is not an isolated incident. It is part of a larger trend of downplaying the issue of PoK and the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian government has been accused of using various tactics, including military repression and political manipulation, to suppress the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
In recent years, there have been reports of human rights abuses by Indian security forces in Jammu and Kashmir. These abuses have included the use of torture, arbitrary detention, and extrajudicial killings. The people of Jammu and Kashmir have also been subjected to various forms of political repression, including the arrest and detention of political activists and the curtailment of basic freedoms.
The issue of PoK is not just a matter of territorial dispute between India and Pakistan. It is also a matter of human rights and the rights of self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The people of PoK have been living under Pakistani control for over seven decades, and have been denied basic human rights and freedoms.
In conclusion, Rajnath Singh’s remark on ‘not taking PoK’ should be condemned. It is a statement that undermines India’s position on the disputed region and reflects a lack of commitment to the idea of ‘Akhand Bharat’. The issue of PoK is not just a matter of territorial dispute between India and Pakistan. It is also a matter of human rights and the rights of self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
News Source: https://x.com/ANI/status/1950054470034903157
