Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said Pakistan has no locus standi in Jammu and Kashmir and it should stop making statements on the internal matters of India. He was addressing farmers, security personnel and scientists after inaugurating the 26th Ladakhi Kisan Jawan Vigyan Mela organised by Defence Institute of High-Altitude Research (DIHAR) at Leh.
Singh said, “I would like to ask Pakistan when was Kashmir a part of you? Kashmir was always a part of India”.
He further said, our stand on Jammu & Kashmir has always been clear and added that in February 1994, Parliament unanimously passed a resolution on Jammu and Kashmir.
“Pakistan has illegally occupied PoK including Gilgit-Baltistan and instead of speaking on Kashmir it should look into the human rights violations the people are facing in that region,” he added.
Singh said by making Ladakh a Union Territory, the government has not only honoured the public sentiment but provided a solution to the people’s problems. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s aim is to bring ‘localised solution’ to the country’s ‘strategic areas’, he added.
Earlier, the defence minister inaugurated ‘Kisan Jawan Vigyan Mela’ in the presence of Chief Executive Counselor, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Leh, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D & Chairman DRDO, Dr Satheesh Reddy and other senior civilian & Army officials in Ladakh.
Rajnath Singh also visited the experimental farm of DIHAR where technologies for production of quality organic fruits and vegetables are being demonstrated. He inspected the greenhouse technology, soil-less cultivation technology, potato storage technology and growing melons under cold climatic conditions.
He also called upon the scientists at DIHAR to develop, within three years when it completes 60 years of its establishment, a model on ‘High Altitude Survival’ that can help the Armed Forces personnel to brave the harsh and inhospitable conditions and keep their morale high. The Indian Army has the capability to become the best ‘High Altitude Warfare’ force in the world, he added.
Singh also appreciated the recent initiative of LAHDC to turn Leh into a certified organic district by 2025. He assured support from the Government in its organic mission.
