JAUNPUR (UP) — Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday described
Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as the "crown jewel of India" and asserted
that Jammu and Kashmir was incomplete without it.
The senior BJP leader also accused Pakistan of continuing
its conspiracy to foster terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.
Singh was speaking to reporters in the Nizamuddinpur village
of Jaunpur district, where he attended a ceremonial event at the home of senior
BJP leader Jagat Narayan Dubey.
"It (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir) is the crown jewel of
India and Jammu and Kashmir is incomplete without it," he said.
"For Pakistan, the Kashmir occupied by it is nothing
more than a foreign territory being used to promote terrorism and anti-India
propaganda. Terror camps and launch pads there (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir)
should be dismantled or it will face an appropriate response," Singh
added.
The defence minister also hit out at Pakistani leader
Anwar-ul-Haq over his alleged anti-India rhetoric.
"Pakistan is trying to provoke people against India on
religious grounds while oppressing citizens there," he said.
He also claimed that India had emerged as the world's
largest digital economy under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.
India, which now has the highest number of 5G users, is on
track to becoming a developed nation by 2047, Singh asserted.
"Today, when India speaks, the world listens
attentively. Our scientists are manufacturing defence equipment on Indian soil
and exporting those to other nations. Moreover, 1.30 lakh start-ups are
operational in the country," the defence minister said.
Singh urged youngsters to delve deep into India's history
and said it reflected the country's accomplishments across domains.
