Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reiterated India's decades-old claim over Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, saying firmly, "Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir was ours, is ours and will remain ours." He took umbrage at the opposition parties diverting attention to the China issue during electioneering, saying that the polls in question will further raise India's stature in the world.
Addressing the crowds at rallies in Lucknow and Ballia's Sikandarpur, Singh reiterating India's stand on PoK, however, said that the ongoing talks with China will uphold the interest of India. He exuded confidence over finding a solution to the border tensions and appealed to international human rights bodies to take cognizance of the plight of the people in PoK.
Addressing the crowds in the presence of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Singh reiterated the BJP's position in the election fray, exuding confidence about forming the government with a thumping majority. He promised to uphold the secular values by bringing in a uniform civil code, while deriding the opposition parties for leveling baseless allegations against the BJP.
Singh took on the opposition's allegations on the BJP's intention to amend the Constitution, drawing an analogy from the Emergency period under the Congress. He said politics is an essential component of nation-building and accused the Samajwadi Party and Congress of bringing in baseless allegations against the BJP.
Calling Congress 'dinosaur', Singh said it would meet its own demise and derided AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal over the recent controversy. He talked about Lucknow's development during his tenure and said Singh and Adityanath said that the BJP will reiterate its commitment to security and progress.
He and Adityanath appealed to the people to vote for BJP candidates in elections, including the assembly bypoll in Lucknow East which fell vacant after the death of the incumbent MLA. Polling in Lucknow and Salempur will take place on May 20 and June 1, respectively.
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