There is no doubt that the erstwhile princely state of Jammu and Kashmir had acceded to India after signing the same standard form of Instrument of Accession that was inked by the rulers of nearly 550 princely states when India was partitioned in 1947.Jammu and Kashmir witnessed bloodshed and genocidal killings as the Pakistani Army led the invasion of the state with the active involvement of tribal militias from the North West Frontier. These marauders let loose the reign of terror on the people of Jammu and Kashmir and indulged in rape, loot, plunder, arson and worst form of human rights violations that are still imprinted on the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The last ruler of Jammu and Kashmir had acceded the entire princely state to India but the international political manipulations and subversion led to annexation of the areas of the Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistan. That left a part of the erstwhile princely state under the illegal occupation of Pakistan. This left many things undecided and unattended. It allowed Pakistan to use the occupied parts of Jammu and Kashmir as the launch pads for unleashing terrorism on the people of Jammu and Kashmir that acceded to India. People of Jammu and Kashmir have seen the worst form of holocaust emanating from the other side of the erstwhile princely state. Over the decades, the people living in the occupied areas known as POJK have witnessed the worst form of human rights violations by the Pakistani state led by its army and feudal structure. With the passage of time Pakistan has eroded the demographic profile of the occupied areas and subjected the people and the resources to a worst form of exploitation. This has led the people of POJK origin to leave Pakistan and seek shelter in countries like the UK and orchestrate the movement for freedom from Pakistan. Not only that Pakistan has ceded areas of these occupied to China. This speaks about the Pakistani intentions about the POJK. It is in this context that the statement made by Raj Nath Singh, Raksha Mantra is very significant. While speaking at an election rally in support of the BJP candidate, Rakesh Singh Thakur in Ramban he has categorically addressed the people of POJK and said, “We consider you our own unlike Pakistan which treats you as foreigners”. He has made this statement in the context of an affidavit filed by Pakistan’s additional solicitor general which states that POJK is a foreign land. Indeed this statement needs to be read between the lines as it has been made after the neutralisation of the Article 370 and 35 A. He has underlined the situation in Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a “sea change” after the political reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir. Raksha Mantri while addressing the people has made it abundantly clear that central government is thinking of a policy that will decide the fate of POJK in times to come. He said, “Support the BJP to form the next government in J-K so that we can facilitate massive development in the region. There will be so much development that the people in PoK on seeing this should say that we do not want to live with Pakistan and instead will go to India”. It is pertinent to mention that the Indian Parliament is duty-bound to implement the unanimous Resolution on 22nd February in 1994 passed under the leadership of former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao in letter and spirit. It firmly affirms that:
(a) The State of Jammu & Kashmir has been, is and shall be an integral part of India and any attempts to separate it from the rest of the country will be resisted by all necessary means;
(b) India has the will and capacity to firmly counter all designs against its unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity; and demands that –
(c) Pakistan must vacate the areas of the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir, which they have occupied through aggression; and resolves that –
(d) All attempts to interfere in the internal affairs of India will be met resolutely”.
The Resolution was unanimously adopted and got unanimously passed.
Thus it is abundantly clear that Indian policy about its territorial integrity and sovereignty is legal and upholds the national interest. Raj Nath Singh has only reaffirmed the national pledge. Only time will tell what will unfold in the near future.
