PoK unrest takes centrestage in Lok Sabha election campaign

New Delhi, May 15: As the Lok Sabha election campaign continues and intensifies for the fifth phase, the rhetoric around Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) being a part of India has gained momentum, with several key ministers of the government emphasising this stance. They assert that growing protests by locals in PoJK against Pakistan will eventually lead to the region’s integration with India.

Over the past ten days, at least three top ministers of the ruling government have addressed the issue in public rallies and interviews. On Wednesday, May 15, Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke about the protests in PoK, declaring, “PoK is part of India, and we will take it.” Speaking at a rally in Serampore, West Bengal, Shah highlighted that peace has returned to Kashmir following the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, whereas PoK now resounds with slogans of “Azadi” and protests.

“After the abrogation of Article 370, peace has returned to Kashmir. But now we witness protests in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. Earlier, slogans of Azadi were heard here; now, the same slogans are heard in PoK. Earlier, stones were pelted here; now, stones are pelted in PoK,” Shah remarked.

Criticizing Congress leaders for not supporting the demand to take over PoK, Shah said, “Congress leaders like Mani Shankar Aiyar say it should not be done as they have an atom bomb. But let me say this: Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir is part of India, and we will take it.”

Addressing corruption in the INDI Alliance, Shah contrasted it with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, claiming, “Choosing between corrupt leaders of the INDI Alliance and honest politician Narendra Modi, who despite being Chief Minister and then Prime Minister, never had an allegation of a single paisa against him.”

He framed the election as a choice between “the ‘Chinese guarantee’ of the INDI Alliance and the concrete promises of Modi Ji... It is a fight between ‘Vote for Vikas’ and ‘Vote for Jihad’!”

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also reiterated that PoK “will always be part of India” while commenting on the violent protests in the region driven by high inflation. Jaishankar emphasized that the situation in PoK is complex but suggested that residents of PoK must be comparing their plight with the progress in Jammu and Kashmir. “They know that sense of being under occupation, of being discriminated against, of being treated badly,” he added.

Jaishankar reaffirmed that PoK is and will always be part of India, correcting a question about its potential merger. “I don’t know what you mean by merge because it has been India, it will always be...if you ask me when will the occupation end, I find it very interesting,” he said.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed confidence that the people of PoK would themselves seek to join India due to the contrasting peace and progress in Jammu and Kashmir. In an interview with PTI on May 5, Rajnath stated, “I think India will not have to do anything. The way the ground situation has changed in Jammu and Kashmir...demands will emerge from people of PoK that they should merge with India.”

However, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) leader Farooq Abdullah cautioned against the assumption that Pakistan would remain passive, noting Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities. “If the defence minister is saying it, then go ahead. But remember, they (Pakistan) are also not wearing bangles. It has atom bombs, and unfortunately, that atom bomb will fall on us,” he warned.

Amidst these political assertions, PoK has been witnessing massive protests and unrest. Regional political parties like the United Kashmir People’s National Party (UKPNP) and Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) called for a long march and sit-in last week to protest against high inflation, unemployment, and electricity shortages where Pro-freedom and anti-Pakistan slogans were raised.

Thousands of protesters took to the streets in PoK’s Muzaffarabad and other areas, leading to violent clashes with Pakistani security forces, resulting in deaths and arrests.

This surge in protests in PoK and the ongoing government and its minister’s strong stance in New Delhi and reactions on PoK reflect the ongoing tensions and the complex geopolitical dynamics at play as the election campaign progresses.