Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday asserted that the people of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) themselves would seek assimilation into India, as Islamabad is unlikely to return to the region willingly.
Speaking to news agency IANS, Rajnath said, “The rate at which economic development has taken place and the way India’s stature has grown on the world stage, people of PoK have started feeling that their development lies in joining a country like India.” He further stated that the people of PoK would compel Pakistan for its merger with India, adding, “I believe the people of that region may not even need Pakistan’s consent for it.”
IANS Exclusive
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh says, “I do not expect Pakistan to return POK to us. I believe the people of POK will themselves demand to be merged with India. With India’s rapid economic progress and growing international prestige, the people of POK have… pic.twitter.com/e3qhSFZFP8
— IANS (@ians_india) March 8, 2025
Rajnath’s remarks come days after External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar reiterated that the return of the “stolen” part of Kashmir, currently under Pakistan’s illegal occupation, was necessary to fully resolve the Kashmir issue.
Highlighting the contrasting approaches of the two countries, Rajnath recalled that the Pakistan government refers to PoK residents as “foreigners,” while India considers them its own people. “We don’t call them foreigners. They are our people. Let them come and join us,” he said, as per IANS.
The Defence Minister reaffirmed that PoK “was part of India, is part of India and will remain its part forever.” He also noted that Jammu and Kashmir was witnessing unprecedented growth under the NDA government, attracting attention from the global community.
Citing recent incidents, Rajnath mentioned that Pakistan flags were removed from certain areas in PoK, signalling growing unrest among the local population.
Rajnath Singh On India’s Relations With Bangladesh
Addressing concerns over the deteriorating law and order situation in Bangladesh, Rajnath reiterated India’s commitment to maintaining good relations with its neighbours. “We always try to maintain good relations with our neighbours because (former Prime Minister) Atal Bihari Vajpayee used to say that we can change friends but not our neighbours. So, we would like to maintain good relations with Bangladesh,” Rajnath told IANS.
IANS Exclusive
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh speaks on the situation in Bangladesh, says, “India always strives to maintain good relations with its neighbors, and Bangladesh is one of them. Our effort has always been to foster strong ties with our neighboring countries.… pic.twitter.com/iSpTRYyq9K
— IANS (@ians_india) March 8, 2025
India has been closely monitoring the situation in Bangladesh under the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus. The administration has faced severe criticism for allegedly exonerating Islamist extremists following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government in August 2024.
During a press briefing on Friday, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that India supports a “stable, peaceful, inclusive, and progressive Bangladesh in which all issues are resolved through democratic means and by holding inclusive and participatory elections.” He added, “We remain concerned about the deteriorating law and order situation, which has further been exacerbated by the release of violent extremists who were sentenced for serious crimes.”
External Affairs Minister Jaishankar had earlier conveyed to Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Advisor Touhid Hossain that it was crucial for Bangladesh to not normalise terrorism. In December, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri also visited Dhaka to express New Delhi’s concerns regarding the safety of minorities.
ALSO READ | India Flags Concerns For Hindus’ Safety In Bangladesh, Points To Release Of Violent Extremists
‘Women’s Role In Armed Forces A Thoughtful Decision,’ Says Rajnath Singh
Rajnath Singh also spoke about the increasing participation of women in the armed forces, stating that the decision was taken with careful consideration.
“It was Prime Minister Modi’s strong desire to increase women’s participation in our armed forces, and that is why this decision was taken. If we look back at the pages of India’s ancient history, we will see that our brave women warriors have always demonstrated valour and courage whenever the need arose. If women in ancient India could showcase their bravery and strength, then why not in modern India?” Rajnath said.
IANS Exclusive
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh speaks on women’s participation in the Armed Forces, says, “Our government has made this decision thoughtfully. It was Prime Minister Modi’s strong desire to increase women’s participation in our armed forces, and that is why… pic.twitter.com/XW7dzQxEuz
— IANS (@ians_india) March 8, 2025
He emphasised that women are excelling in various fields, including sports and education, and should have equal opportunities in the military.
One Nation, One Election Should Have Been Implemented Earlier: Rajnath Singh
Sharing his views on the One Nation, One Election (ONOE) proposal, Rajnath said, “This should have been done a long time ago. I believe there has been a significant delay in this matter. However, Prime Minister Modi truly deserves appreciation for making the decision to introduce this bill.”
According to Rajnath, holding simultaneous elections would lead to substantial financial savings, though he refrained from citing an exact figure. “The government will save an enormous amount of money—running into lakhs of crores,” he said.
IANS Exclusive
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh speaks on One Nation One Election, says, “This should have been done a long time ago. I believe there has been a significant delay in this matter. However, Prime Minister Modi truly deserves appreciation for making the decision… pic.twitter.com/MmDwgkl5xR
— IANS (@ians_india) March 8, 2025
Rajnath further argued that a synchronised election schedule for Lok Sabha, state Assemblies, and local bodies would save both time and resources. “Currently, elections are held throughout the year—sometimes for panchayats, sometimes for municipal bodies, sometimes for MLAs, MPs, district boards, or district panchayats. A fixed schedule will ensure elections are conducted simultaneously, leading to significant savings,” he added.
The One Nation, One Election Bills were introduced in the Lok Sabha on December 17 last year, and a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) has been constituted to review its feasibility. The committee, chaired by BJP MP P.P. Chaudhary, includes 39 members—27 from Lok Sabha and 12 from Rajya Sabha.
Among the committee members are Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, BJP leaders Anurag Thakur and Anil Baluni, as well as opposition MPs like Kalyan Banerjee (TMC) and Dharmendra Yadav (Samajwadi Party).
While the government argues that ONOE will streamline governance and cut costs, opposition parties have raised concerns over its impact on India’s federal structure.
