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On 'Shaurya Diwas', Rajnath Singh hails PM Modi for Article 370 abrogation; hints at retrieving PoK
Defence minister Rajnath Singh took a dig at Pakistan, saying the country is committing atrocities against the people in its occupied Kashmir, and added that India's neighbour will have to “bear consequences”.
On the occasion of 76th ‘Shaurya Diwas’ (Infantry Day) on Thursday, Defence minister Rajnath Singh said terrorism has no religion, and that the only aim of terrorists is to “target India”. He also remembered the soldiers who were part of the military event in 1947, and said the day calls for paying “tribute to their sacrifice and dedication”.
The Indian Army celebrates October 27 as the ‘Shaurya Diwas’ every year as on this day in 1947, the 1st Battalion of the Sikh Regiment landed at Srinagar airbase and successfully fought off the Pakistan Army, who had invaded Kashmir with the help of tribal raiders. The ‘Infantry Day’ is observed as a remembrance of the first military event of independent India.
Addressing an event in Jammu and Kashmir at the ‘Shaurya Diwas’ programme organised by the Army, Singh took a swipe at Pakistan, saying the country is committing atrocities against people in its occupied Kashmir (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir or PoK). “They will have to bear its consequences,” he added.
The defence minister also hinted at getting back PoK by mentioning Gilgit-Baltistin. “We have just begun our journey of development in [twin Union territories of] Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, and our goal will only be achieved when we reach Gilgit and Baltistan [parts of the PoK],” Singh said at the programme in Hindi.
He further stated that the journey will be completed when 1947 refugees will get justice when the land of their ancestors will be returned to them with respect.
“I would like to ask Pakistan; how many rights has it given to the people of our areas which it has taken unauthorised possession of? Everyone knows just how much Pakistan, which sheds crocodile tears in the name of human rights, actually cares about the people of these areas,” the defence minister took another jibe at India's neighbour.
Singh said that the Centre's decision to abrogate Article 370, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, ended the discrimination against the people of the region. “The 'tandav' of terrorism that J-K has seen in name of Kashmiriyat cannot be described,” he added.
Hailing Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the defence minister said that the discrimination ended under his leadership and in the last few years, the mood of the Union territory has changed, with people living in more unity.
(With inputs from agencies)
