KASHMIR NEWS OBSERVER
In a snub to Pakistan , Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh asked it to hold a referendum to determine whether the people there wanted to remain with Pakistan or merge with India.
This snub by Rajnath Singh came on Sunday , when Pakistan observed “ Kashmir Solidarity Day” to demonstrate its support to what it calls “ Kashmiris’ freedom struggle.”
Rajnath Singh rebuffed Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who had claimed that Kashmir “ dispute” needed to be solved as per the U N resolutions . He had claimed that “ India cannot suppress indigenous struggle of Kashmiris for freedom”, while reiterating ,“ Pakistan would continue to offer political, moral and diplomatic support to Kashmiris in their freedom struggle.”
Rajnath Singh also asserted that “Kashmir was always with India and will remain a part of it. “Now Pakistan wants referendum on Kashmir but one thing is clear that Kashmir was with India and will be with India and no power can change that. There should instead be a referendum in Pakistan, asking whether its people want to remain in the same country or want to merge with India,” he said while addressing a public rally in Haridwar in Uttrakhand , the state which is going to Assembly polls.
Singh blamed Pakistan for the worsening of bilateral relations between the two countries and said, “I want to tell this to Pakistan that India always want to establish peaceful relations but it was only Islamabad which has tried to disrupt the relationship. They need to stop these terrorists and those who are asking for referendum on Kashmir.” “We want peaceful relations with Pakistan but time and again Pakistan is responsible for notorious activities,” he added.
The Union Minister also brought out the country’s vision and its stand in the present day world order, where he stressed on the fact that India is no longer a soft nation. “Through surgical strikes, we have showed the world that even we can take strong action. India is a peace loving country but however, it is no longer a soft nation,” he added. Singh also warned the countries conspiring against India saying,” If somebody touches us then we will not spare them.”