Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said that the journey on which the Government of India embarked on August 5, 2019, would be completed with the merger of Gilgit-Baltistan and other parts of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir with India.
Rajnath was addressing Shaurya Diwas, a programme organised by the Indian Army in Srinagar to mark the accession of J&K with the Union of India on October 27, 1947.
”We have started walking north. Our journey will be completed only when we implement the resolution passed in the Indian Parliament on February 22, 1949, and accordingly reach our remaining parts, such as Gilgit and Baltistan.”
Rajnath said that the Centre's decision to abrogate Article 370 on August 5, 2019 ended the discrimination against the people in Jammu and Kashmir. "The discrimination against the people of Jammu and Kashmir was ended under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 5, 2019”, Rajnath said.
Before rolling back Article 370, Kashmiri society was divided into segments, but post-August 5, 2019, all sections of society are collectively marching towards success and prosperity, Singh said.
Rajnath said the revocation of Article 370 started a new beginning in J&K. “People of J&K reposed great hope and supported the full integration of J&K with the union of India. J&K and Ladakh UTs are flourishing with every section of society getting their due rights,” he said.
Recalling the 27th October 1947 event, the Defense Minister said that the Indian forces tackled the enemy one by one, ”Every move of the enemy was getting destroyed during which many of our brave soldiers sacrificed their lives for the nation.”
“At that time, with the cooperation of Kashmiri brothers and sisters and security forces, the Indian Army did such a historic work and defeated Pakistan. Our forces forced the enemy to retreat and protected the sovereignty of the entire country including Jammu and Kashmir”, he said.
“This campaign of October 27, 1947 was a campaign for safeguarding our territorial integrity as well as for the safety of our people. It was a campaign to protect the dreams, hopes and aspirations of the people regarding independent India”, he said.
“Rajatarangini is a famous work of the great poet Kalhana in which he writes about the history of Kashmiri kings. In this he writes about Kashmir, 'Kashmira: Parvati, Tatra Raja Gyeya Shivansajah', i.e. 'The land of Kashmir is the real Parvati, and the king here is part of Shiva,” Defense Minister said.
“People come from far and wide to visit the temple of Adi Shankaracharya located here. He was a symbol of the unity of the nation. There is also a temple named after him, a great symbol of the cultural unity of the nation,” he said.
Rajnath said that even after being an integral part of the country, Jammu and Kashmir was being treated discriminatory. “In the same nation 'two laws, two marks and two heads' were functioning. At the same time, there is no account of how much blood was shed in the name of religion,” Rajnath Singh said.
“In order to ensure the safety of the public in this area, whenever any action has been taken against the terrorists and their allies by the army or state security forces, some so-called intellectuals of the country have found the violation of human rights of the terrorists in that action,” he added.
“The saddest thing was when Kashmiri Pandits were forced to migrate from the valley by performing ethnic cleansing. When the enlightened section of the society shuts its mouth against injustice, then there is no delay in the downfall of the society”, Defense Minister said.
“Pakistan government is sowing the seeds of hatred in PoK and time is not far when people will resort to mass rebellion there,” Singh said, adding: “Quite often, inhuman incidents on Indians happen. Pakistan is fully responsible for those. The torture Pakistan is inflicting on the people of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, in coming times Pakistan will definitely have to pay the price for its crime.”
“This 'Shaurya Diwas', on the one hand, gives us an opportunity to remember the valour and contribution of our heroes to the nation, and on the other hand, inspires us to think about the importance of independence. Why our country could not be included in the leading countries of the world even after 75 years”, he said.
“Today, on the occasion of 'Shaurya Diwas and Infantry Day', I extend my warm greetings to all the brave soldiers of the Indian Army and Air Force, whose indomitable courage has kept the citizens of India safe. I believe that all of you will continue to serve the nation with this valour in future also”, he said.