Reiterating India's sovereignty over Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said that no force in the world was capable of snatching it from India. The statement came during an electoral gathering in Pratapgarh, Raebareli, as there was some turmoil in PoK, where security forces and demonstrators were fighting.
In a sharp rebuke aimed at Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar's suggestion to "respect Pakistan" on the grounds of its possession of nuclear weapons, Shah retorted, "Why should we show reverence to Pakistan? If Rahul Gandhi is apprehensive of atomic threats, that's his concern. We stand firm: PoJK belongs to India, and we will reclaim it."
Expanding on the Kashmir issue, Shah took a swipe at Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, alleging that the Congress, Samajwadi Party, and BSP had treated Article 370 in Kashmir like an illegitimate child. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi revoked Article 370, curbing terrorism and integrating Kashmir with India," Shah declared, criticising Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi for pledging to reinstate Article 370 if elected.
Turning attention to local matters, Shah urged support for BJP candidate Dinesh Pratap Singh, accusing Sonia Gandhi of disproportionately allocating MP funds to minorities. "Sonia Gandhi has spent more than 70 per cent of the MP funds on minorities," Shah claimed as he urged the electorate to ponder over the use of funds.
On the long-standing dominance of the Gandhi and Nehru families in Raebareli, Shah questioned their dedication to the constituency. "The people of Raebareli have consistently voted for the Gandhi and Nehru families. But how often have Sonia Ji and her family come to Raebareli after their election?" Shah asked, to point to an apparent disconnect between the elected representatives and the electorate.
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