Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh made a strong statement at the POJK Sankalp Diwas program, asserting that the return of Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK) to India is only possible under the Modi government. The event, organized by the Jammu Kashmir People’s Forum and Mirpur POJK Balidan Samiti, was held at the Indian Society of International Law auditorium in the national capital.
Dr. Singh criticized India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, blaming his policies for the loss of POJK. “Pakistan-Occupied Jammu Kashmir is the biggest failure in Indian history and a result of Nehru’s flawed foreign policy. His misplaced belief in peace led to multiple mistakes, the consequences of which India still suffers today,” he said.
The minister emphasized that India’s partition was a historical blunder driven by the ambitions of Nehru and Jinnah. He also recalled how the Indian Army had successfully advanced into POJK before Nehru declared a ceasefire, leading to its continued occupation by Pakistan. “If Nehru had not halted the army and had not taken the matter to the UN, POJK would have been completely integrated with India,” Dr. Singh added.
He reiterated that POJK, along with Pakistan-Occupied Territories of Ladakh (POTL) and China-Occupied Territories of Ladakh (COTL), remains an integral part of India. “The Modi government is committed to liberating these regions. I won’t predict a timeline, but I assure you that the return of POJK is only possible under the BJP-led government,“ he said.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta Echoes Commitment
Solicitor General of India, Tushar Mehta, who also attended the event, underscored the Modi government’s determination to reclaim POJK. He cited the successful abrogation of Article 370 as proof of the government’s resolve, stating, “Many believed Article 370 could never be removed, but the Modi government achieved it. Today, no political party dares to propose its reinstatement.”
Mehta referred to Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement in Parliament that POJK was, is, and will always be part of India, asserting that the current government is the only one capable of achieving its return. He also highlighted Pakistan’s economic crisis and deteriorating conditions in POJK, saying, “There is no flour to eat, unemployment is at 35%, and people there now want to join India. The day is not far when a movement will arise from within POJK itself.”
The Solicitor General called for an immediate change in terminology, urging people to reject Pakistan’s term ‘Azad Kashmir’ and instead refer to it as POJK. “We must start by correcting platforms like Wikipedia, which use Pakistan’s misleading terminology. POJK is an integral part of India, and that should be reflected everywhere,“ he stated.
India’s Resolution On Occupied Territories
The event also revisited India’s long-standing commitment to reclaiming occupied territories. At the time of independence in 1947, Jammu and Kashmir covered 2,22,236 square kilometers, including Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh, and Gilgit. Today, 54.4% of that land—approximately 1.21 lakh sq km—remains under illegal occupation by Pakistan and China.
Maharaja Hari Singh had signed the Instrument of Accession to India on 26 October 1947, after Pakistan’s invasion. Despite India’s military success in repelling Pakistani forces, a ceasefire was declared on 1 January 1949, under UN pressure, allowing Pakistan to retain control over a large portion of the region. Similarly, in 1962, China occupied 37,000 sq km of Ladakh, and in 1963, Pakistan ceded an additional 5,180 sq km of the Shaksgam Valley to China.
The Forgotten Massacres Of 1947
The event also shed light on the atrocities committed during Pakistan’s invasion of Jammu and Kashmir in 1947. Several massacres targeting Hindus and Sikhs were recounted, including:
- Muzaffarabad Massacre (October 1947): 4,500-5,000 Hindus and Sikhs were killed, and over 1,600 women were abducted.
- Mirpur Massacre (October 24-25, 1947): Over 20,000 Hindu-Sikhs were killed, and more than 3,500 were taken hostage, with many women sold in markets in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Arabia.
- Kotli & Bhimber Massacres: Thousands were killed, and women were abducted and brutally assaulted.
- Rajouri Massacre (November 1947): Pakistani forces killed at least 30,000 Hindus and Sikhs.
- Baramulla Massacre (October-November 1947): Pakistani troops looted, burned villages, raped, and murdered civilians.
Lakhs of Hindu and Sikh refugees were displaced, many of whom continue to struggle in various parts of India.
Call For A National Movement
The Jammu Kashmir People’s Forum and Mirpur POJK Balidan Samiti called for a nationwide movement to reclaim POJK, POTL, and COTL. The groups urged citizens to foster nationalist consciousness and push for diplomatic and military efforts to restore India’s territorial integrity.
The event concluded with a reminder of India’s parliamentary resolution passed on 22 February 1994, which reaffirmed that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and called upon Pakistan to vacate occupied territories. “India will resist any conspiracy against its unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and any interference in its internal affairs will be strongly opposed,” the resolution states.
With strong statements from government leaders and legal experts, the POJK Sankalp Diwas program underscored the Modi administration’s firm stance on reclaiming lost territories and reuniting POJK with India.
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