‘PoK will merge with India on its own, says Union Minister, Congress calls it 'blasphemous'
countries in South Asia have lodged strong protests against the map. "China has put out maps with territories (that are) not theirs. (It is an) old habit.
Just by putting out maps with parts of India... this doesn't change anything. Our government is very clear about what our territory is.
Making absurd claims does not make other people's territories yours," Jaishankar told news platform NDTV. The region known as Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) has been split into two distinct regions, namely Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. As per a report by BBC, the combined population of PoK amounts to approximately 4.5 million.
Among this population, approximately 97% are Muslims, while the remaining 3% represent various religious minorities, such as Hindus and Christians. The remarks drew a strong reaction from the Opposition camp who called the statement “blasphemous". “That region is an integral part of India, it is a part of our motherland and there is no differentiation.
For me, it is a part of India and it is a blasphemous statement he is making. It is an integral part of the Indian Union. It was with us and will stay with us.
How dare he make this differentiation that it will be merged? It is very much part of Indian territory," Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said. “We have always dreamed that there be an 'Akhand Bharat'. We always say that PoK is ours.
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