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What does HM Amit Shah say on PoK in his speech?
Home Minister Amit Shah reiterated India’s claim on Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), stating ” No power in the world can take it from us”. Shah’s statement came at a election rally in Raebareli’s Pratapgarh and the timing of the reiteration of this statement is also quite interesting because PoK is witnessing unrest following violent clashes between security forces and protesters.Â
What's Happening in PoK?
The pictures and videos coming from PoK is quite intense but it’s not the first time when we see these kind of protests against Pakistani’s government. Hundreds of people came down to streets in PoK over high inflation, high taxation, electricity shortages and the demand for merger with India. Also the PoK residents are tired of being treated as the second citizen by the Pakistani establishment.Â
The common daily activities and businesses were kept closed as there were clashes going on which also turned violent in PoK’s capital Muzzafarabad on Saturday. The strikes were erupted across multiple parts in the PoK such as Mirpur, Samahni, Sehnsa, Rawalakot, Khuiratta, Tattapani and Hattian Bala.Â
PoK activist Amjad Ayub Mirza claimed that Pakistani security personnels were shooting at unarmed civilians. He appealed to Indian government for intervention and seek help as the situation has gone out of control according to him. Further, he advocated for freedom of Gilgit Baltistan .
India's Stance on PoK
The Indian government reiterated several times that PoK is an integral part of India and will always be. PoK belongs to India and we will take it back.Â
External Affairs Minister, Dr. S Jaishankar also said few days back, “All I can say about POK is that there a Parliament resolution…every political party of this country is committed to ensuring that POK, which is a part of India, returns to India. That is our national commitment.”Â
The Defence Minister has also expressed his will to take back PoK and said, “I think India will not have to do anything. The way the ground situation has changed in Jammu and Kashmir, the way the region is witnessing economic progress and the way peace has returned there, I think demands will emerge from people of PoK that they should merge with India,” he said.
“We will not have to use force to take PoK as people would say that we must be merged with India. Such demands are now coming,” he said. The Defence Minister asserted that “PoK was, is, and will remain ours”.
What Led to this Protest in PoK?
There exits a committee of activists called Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) in PoK which fights for the rights of PoK people. Pakistani police arrested 70 member activists of it during raids in Muzzafarabad and Mirpur divisions, leading to violent clashes in Dadyal on Wednesday and Thursday.
After the arrest of its member activists, the organization called for a massive strike on Friday to which the PoK government retaliated by imposing Section 144 in the region which led to shutting down of educational institutions and offices.Â
As of now, a police officer has been killed and over 100 security personnels got injured during the protest according to the Pakistani newspaper DAWN . The residents of Pok can be seen holding the posters of merger with India.Â
Conclusion
Every citizen of India is eagerly waiting for PoK to merge with India. It’s been more than 70 years of waiting which is still on but now it seems that the wait will be over in sometime. The residents of PoK are also very desperate to merge with India as India has gone way ahead of Pakistan in all prosperous terms. After the abrogation of article 370, Jammu & Kashmir is witnessing an enormous change whether it is economic progress or social upliftment, the valley is on the way of transformation.Â
So these are quite a few reasons why PoK residents raising slogans and holding posters for merger with India. Â
