Rajouri

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday reiterated India's commitment to fostering peaceful relations with its neighbours, including Pakistan, but emphasised that dialogue with Pakistan would depend on its commitment to halting terrorist activities targeting India.

Addressing a public rally, Rajnath Singh remembered former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, highlighting his focus on humanity, democracy, and Kashmiriyat.

"Our former Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ji, emphasized humanity, democracy, and Kashmiriyat. However, the political houses here gave importance to only politics, politics, and politics. We have a principle: if we want to live peacefully, we should maintain good relations with our neighbours. We want good relations with all our neighbouring countries, even with Pakistan. But they are encouraging terrorism. How can we maintain good relations when they continue to promote terrorism? If they guarantee they will not launch terrorism on Indian soil, we are ready to engage in dialogue with them," Singh said.

In response to Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif backing the Congress-NC alliance's stance on Article 370, Singh said that the government would not allow Pakistan's "evil agenda" to succeed in Jammu and Kashmir.

"Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that Congress and its ally National Conference want the return of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan also wants the same. The question arises whether Congress and National Conference are working as Pakistan's proxy. Why do the Congress and its broken INDI Alliance raise the same issues again and again, which come from Pakistan? These are the people who raised questions about Pulwama. Proofs of surgical strike and air strike were demanded. All these things are clearly indicate that efforts are being made to run Pakistan's agenda. But I want to tell both sides that we will not allow Pakistan's evil agenda to work in Jammu and Kashmir," he added.

Singh also pointed to the high voter turnout in the first phase of Jammu and Kashmir's assembly elections as a sign of the positive changes in the region.

 "The first phase of voting ended on September 18. More than 61 per cent of votes were cast in 24 seats here. People came out of their homes and voted without any fear and have given a message to the whole world that this Jammu and Kashmir has changed for the better after the abolition of Article 370," he noted.

 The Defence Minister praised the people of Jammu and Kashmir for upholding the values of democracy.

"The people of Jammu and Kashmir valley have raised the prestige of democracy. That is why I congratulate all of you. Pakistan has started feeling pain in its stomach after seeing the flag of democracy fly high in Jammu and Kashmir," he said.

On the issue of restoring Jammu and Kashmir's statehood, Singh accused the Congress party of "misleading" the people by claiming they would restore statehood if they came to power.

 "First of all, Congress is nowhere to form a government in J-K. Prime Minister Modiji has already said in the Parliament, before the elections, that Jammu and Kashmir will be granted statehood status," he said.

Taking a jab at Pakistan's interference in India's internal matters, Singh said that Pakistan is currently pleading for a USD 7 billion bailout package from the IMF.

 "The amount of bailout package that Pakistan is asking for is almost ten times more than that given in the PM package for the development of Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan, which has become the international brand ambassador of poverty and misery, is not able to manage its own country and it is worried about India," Singh said.

While speaking in Poonch, Singh highlighted the significance of the ongoing elections in Jammu and Kashmir, which are being held after a decade.

"Elections are being held after 10 years in J-K and everybody's eyes are on this election. More than 58 per cent voting has happened in J-K, while in Ladakh, over 82 per cent voting took place...This is a big sign of change for J-K," Singh said.

Singh addressed three public meetings in Poonch, Rajouri and Jammu during his election campaign in the Union Territory.

Jammu and Kashmir is voting for its 90-member assembly in three phases. The first phase of voting took place on September 18.

 Notably, a voter turnout of 61.13 pc was registered in the first phase of polling in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls, which were held on 24 constituencies in seven districts on September 18.

 Voting for the second and third phases in J-K will be held on September 25 and October 1, respectively. Votes will be counted on October 8.

Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing an interesting contest with several political parties and independents in the fray. NCP and Congress have forged a pre poll alliance in the UT.

These elections, the first since the abrogation of Article 370, are being held after nearly a decade in the Union Territory.