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NEW DELHI: Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on Sunday that a referendum must be conducted in Pakistan to check whether its citizens wanted to remain there or wanted to merge with India.
According to reports from Haridwar, where he addressed an election rally, Mr Singh also said that Kashmir was always with India and would remain a part of it.
“Now Pakistan wants referendum on Kashmir but one thing is clear that Kashmir was with India and will be with India and no power can change that. There should instead be a referendum in Pakistan, asking whether its people want to remain in the same country or want to merge with India,” he said.
Mr Singh blamed Pakistan for the worsening of relations. “I want to tell this to Pakistan that India always wants to establish peaceful relations but it is only Islamabad which has tried to disrupt the relationship. They need to stop these terrorists and those who are asking for referendum on Kashmir.
“We want peaceful relations with Pakistan but time and again Pakistan is responsible for notorious activities,” he added.
Mr Singh said the world no longer regarded India as a soft nation. “Through surgical strikes, we have shown the world that even we can take strong action. India is a peace loving country but it is no longer a soft nation,” he added.
Mr Singh also warned the countries “conspiring” against India and said: “If somebody touches us then we will not spare them.”
Published in Dawn February 6th, 2017
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Comments (120) Closed
Feb 06, 2017 08:58am
Sure why not! Just name the merged country as Pakistan
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Feb 06, 2017 09:06am
He is in serious need to develop a sense of humor.
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Feb 06, 2017 09:02am
Good One there Mr. Home Minister...
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Feb 06, 2017 09:06am
so you haven't given up dreams of ruling on Muslims . what have you done for the muslim of india minster . btw Pakistan's number in better then india when it comes to list of most happiest countries . you may want to ask the opinion of your own citizen if they like to live in a country that can't even provide toilets to his citizens .
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Feb 06, 2017 09:10am
What a joke. The message is loud and clear from the heart of all kashmiris, with political and moral support of Pakistanis
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Feb 06, 2017 09:11am
May be he is right.. may be not...We all should stop poking nose in each others internal matters...
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Feb 06, 2017 09:13am
@AXH really
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Feb 06, 2017 09:14am
well said
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Feb 06, 2017 09:14am
Mr Rajnath has lost all sanity. The whole world knows that there is the Kashmir issue between India and Pak that needs to be resolved. He needs to understand that there will be no peace until the Kashmir issue is resolved.
This kind of talk is dangerous as war between the two countries will be devastating for both. Indian leadership needs to get out of this illusion that in case of war India will win because there will be no winners instead both countries will lose.
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Feb 06, 2017 09:19am
This guy should join circus.
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Feb 06, 2017 09:19am
We accept your challenge but the referañdum in Kashmir should also be held simultaneously on same day. And if Kashmir referandum results tilts in Pakistan favour,than India must vacate Kashmir atonce.
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Feb 06, 2017 09:28am
He is clearly frustrated and partially lost his mind!
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Feb 06, 2017 09:44am
Gross! Inferiority complex is killing Indians.
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Feb 06, 2017 09:46am
Pure Election campaign and making nonsense outbursts...
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Feb 06, 2017 09:43am
Let us take your words. If Pakistan holds referendum for merger with India, can India be prepared to do the same referendum in the country to know which states of India want to join Pakistan. By this way, India will come to know the reality that its own people do not want to live anymore under the subjugation of India.
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Feb 06, 2017 09:54am
I pity on Indians to have a home minister like this.....
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Feb 06, 2017 09:55am
How about doing the opposite Mr. Home Minister... I'm sure after your demonetization deal and Pakistani's CPEC the Indians may be well interested in merging with Pakistan..
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Feb 06, 2017 09:56am
He is speaking a good thing. I still feel if there is a referendum in Pakistan about merger with India, majority of the people of Pakistan will be in favour of merger. Let us do this.
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Feb 06, 2017 10:04am
DON'T WORRY. THESE ARE ALL ELECTION RHETORIC.
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Feb 06, 2017 09:58am
In your dreams..!
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Feb 06, 2017 09:59am
After reading the news I am left with no choice but to pose a blunt question, or more correctly, put forward truly sincere suggestion as to why not asking Indians the same question and I am sure honorable Home Minister will be shocked to death seeing millions renouncing Indian citizenship and instead opting to be Pakistanis? It is really very high and ripe time to try the litmus test, I repeat, it is really very high and ripe time to try the litmus test, and I very sincerely advise Indian Home Minister not to wait any further as already 69 precious years have been wasted by Indians so hurry up please. Very impatiently waiting to hear from HE Rajnath Singh the date when he himself conducts the litmus test. Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Former Pakistani Diplomat in Kuwait / zaidi.formerdiplomat@hotmail.com
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Feb 06, 2017 10:05am
@Iztraab , agreed
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Feb 06, 2017 10:09am
Focus on 100s of separatist movements in your country instead of discussing Pakistan!
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Feb 06, 2017 10:10am
@Masood why not conduct survey first then find the reality
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Feb 06, 2017 10:18am
Well said Rajnath Singh.
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Feb 06, 2017 10:24am
Lets hold a the voting and give an answer !!
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Feb 06, 2017 10:27am
Let's. Have a referendum in Assam Tripura Kashmiri etcetc
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Feb 06, 2017 10:24am
...any sane and pragmatic minister in the current BJP/RSS government.??
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Feb 06, 2017 10:30am
Elections are coming. Yaaay!
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Feb 06, 2017 10:28am
Delusional disorder!
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Feb 06, 2017 10:32am
Are we ( both India and Pakistan) as nations courageous enough to uphold the verdict of a vote, that is the question?. Both of us are bad losers especially when either of us is involved in each other's affairs. India cannot take a vote in their side of Kashmir and Pakistan did not uphold the peoples verdict in the 1970 General elections. Recently both England and the U.S. had close voting calls, Brexit and the U.S. Presidential elections, yet both were accepted. We as nations do not even accept results of local elections, so many loose their lives. We like to think we follow parliamentary democratic norms, follow the rule of law, and other norms, but we cannot deliver. We have to build up our tolerance levels, accept each other as equals, and learn how to deal with view points that are different than ours, first and then have a vote or a referendum.
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Feb 06, 2017 10:38am
Ladies and Gentlemen, A new Bollywood comedy film is released and the hero is Rajnath.
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Feb 06, 2017 10:34am
The man has lost his mind!
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Feb 06, 2017 10:33am
And What about referendum in INDIA, PAKISTAN AND KASHMIR and let's see???
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Feb 06, 2017 10:41am
Not good for India, seeing Pakistan internal and financial issues.
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Feb 06, 2017 10:48am
Hand on heart, if given a chance, many in Pakistan would love to come over to the other side.
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Feb 06, 2017 10:56am
Oh no!!! We need a wall sealing our wesrern border. A huge wall.
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Feb 06, 2017 11:03am
How about a United States of South Asia as a confederation similar to the European Union? All retain their identities and uniqueness while being together. You may have a common currency or parts may retain theirs. Defence costs and negativity goes away and all win.
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Feb 06, 2017 11:16am
No wonder India is run by war mongers lunatics
This echoes the Hitler's Germany
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Feb 06, 2017 11:28am
Welcome to India !! We will be very happy to receive you .....most preferred Brothers !!
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Feb 06, 2017 11:26am
Hey, this is a great idea! Why not Pakistan conduct it?
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Feb 06, 2017 11:32am
Why not ?
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Feb 06, 2017 11:32am
@Dil
Compare the minorities in both the countries! it will tell. just get the stats on number of muslims, christians in India @ 1947 and now and Hindus and Chritians t 1947 and now.
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Feb 06, 2017 11:32am
@R Yegya Narayanan I agree with you
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Feb 06, 2017 11:33am
Before asking Pakistan for referendum on merging with India, Indian people should be asked whether they would want Pakistan to be merged with India.
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Feb 06, 2017 11:36am
@Zahid Well said my brother and please ignore this Rajnath Singhs comments .
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Feb 06, 2017 11:52am
Very well Said HM!
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Feb 06, 2017 11:58am
This guy lost all hopes that's why he is talking like this.
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Feb 06, 2017 12:02pm
Ignore, its election season in India and BJP is about to loose in Punjab, likely UP and likely in Goa. The Indian Defense minister. Mr Parrikar, is trying this best to hold the line hard in Goa.
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Feb 06, 2017 12:01pm
Very well said.
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Feb 06, 2017 12:01pm
This idea is not as preposterous as it sounds because i know many pakistanis who would like to move around freely in the sub-continent. Likewise Indians won't mind visiting pakistan either. A merger may not be required but better relations can ease the barriers which people face in moving around freely. Man made borders cannot erase ties of thousands of years.
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Feb 06, 2017 12:01pm
A very good and timely suggestion by Indian home minister Rajnath.
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Feb 06, 2017 12:13pm
What is going on? I really do no understand this whole thing about Kashmir. More than Kashmiris people of India and Pakistan are more frustrated. My peaceful solution is that forget Kashmir and both the countries take care of their own part of Kashmir and let both side Kashmiris live a peaceful, happy and wonderful life. They too are human beings, why are we both countries not taking care of them? Instead of waging a war let both the country men provide them proper education, job, good business, and a happy life.
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Feb 06, 2017 12:19pm
@D.K. PAMNANI: WOW...time to come out of the rock you've been living under for the past 68 years
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Feb 06, 2017 12:35pm
What a great idea.. India and Pakistan as one peaceful and prosperous nation. Perhaps a little early. Might need younger minds with no historical baggage to look at this possibility..
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Feb 06, 2017 12:37pm
@Murlidhar Nair wow such a simple solution.. do u even know the history of kashmir or u just write what u think ?
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Feb 06, 2017 12:43pm
70 years for god sake still unchanged, which whole world are we quoting here to resolve things for us. Live and let live. Pakistan should focus on there on internal matters rather then other's.
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Feb 06, 2017 12:49pm
@Iqbal Hadi Zaidi
I truly appreciate the love you have for your land. and I wish everyone (both sides) should have love and pride for their home land as you...
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Feb 06, 2017 12:44pm
@Waseem No dear, its election time in UP and you would hear such rhetoric more often till the voting day
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Feb 06, 2017 01:01pm
As an Indian I seriously hope that he is not serious.
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Feb 06, 2017 12:58pm
@Syed you should not worry about Assam, I am living in Assam, and here environment is better than bihar and up
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Feb 06, 2017 12:56pm
@D.K. PAMNANI Lets have a referendum in Kashmir first. Why are you so afraid of that.
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Feb 06, 2017 01:12pm
@sheryaar
Before comments, please go through the history of Kashmir and UN Resolution and situation before 1947. Mr.Nair is very much correct.
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Feb 06, 2017 01:21pm
oH NO. we don't need that western mess
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Feb 06, 2017 01:21pm
Unnecessary and careless talk. Dangerous talk too. India does not want Pakistan within it. Pakistan also does not want to have India within it. It is better we stay as w are but with just formal neighborly relations. No one wants brotherly or close relations. To you, yours and to me, mine. That way all are happy
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Feb 06, 2017 01:29pm
@Zahid Totally agreed
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Feb 06, 2017 02:01pm
I would take him up on his offer immediately on the following condition:
Referendum in Pakistan on whether we wish to join India
IF a referendum is held on whether Kashmiris wish to remain with India or Integrate with Pakistan.
I have no doubt of the outcome:
Pakistan overwhelmingly would vote to remain independent and Kashmiris overwhelmingly would vote to join Pakistan.
Finally we have a peaceful solution to the problem of Kashmir and that too presented by the Indians
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Feb 06, 2017 02:30pm
Don't forget 1947
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Feb 06, 2017 02:43pm
Forget about mergers and diverges - lets have a common market EU style and live in peace - free movement of people, capital and products. Had enough of wars - needs peace, stability and prosperity.
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Feb 06, 2017 03:11pm
@My 2 cents - India has already provided Most Favored Nation Status to Pakistan long ago...Pak after agreeing in principle ..never responded and now reneged on that agreement
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Feb 06, 2017 03:17pm
Good Humour Mr.HM
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Feb 06, 2017 04:25pm
@One thought. Well said
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Feb 06, 2017 04:28pm
Rajnath, Narendra, Hafiz mindset is the problem of our society. Full of hate and now it's even shows on their faces. Sad state of affair and now UP etc., election time so hate is more evident to win election, this is how victory happens in politics to infuse hate. No wonder we have 600 + millions Indians and 50 + million Pakistani defecating in open. God put sense in my people to stop listening to these politicians who are in for their own benefits. Sad.
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Feb 06, 2017 05:10pm
They have been dreaming this since 1947 . Rajnath should go to a mental hospital !
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Feb 06, 2017 05:46pm
@Iztraab haha 100% agree..
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Feb 06, 2017 05:47pm
@Niran - "Good One there Mr. Home Minister..."
Really?
Are you in competition with your minister for a wooden spoon in pathetic sense of humour?
Good one was the first comment, actually - witty!
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Feb 06, 2017 05:48pm
Great idea Mr Rajnath.. We are heck prepared to do this refurrendum but then you should also prepared to do refurrendum in Kashmir but we also know the fact you will never accept the result as Kashmiri's already giving their loud and clear message in support of Pakistan..
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Feb 06, 2017 06:31pm
Open the borders and let people decide where they want to go, when they want to go and how they want to go. Hell with the politicians, let the people decide. How much better would life be for all the people of the Sub-Continent, if people could just travel freely, without visas, as between the U.S. and Canada and the E.U. countries and many different countries around the world, we the people live with a heavy yoke around our necks from cradle to grave, and we cannot even complain, speak freely, act freely. This is the issue not referendum or vote.
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Feb 06, 2017 08:08pm
@One thought.
It almost seems Indian and Pakistani genes are taking their own time to evolve into stages where our societies can be compared with those who have already gone through the process of giving sacrifices to becoming what they are today.Nevertheless by learning good things from others the journey to acquiring highrr values can be reduced!
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Feb 06, 2017 08:25pm
@Pradeep
My view as a Pakistani is that niether country would want a merger. It was clear even before Partition that Nehru just wanted power readily transferred to him while Patel wanted to free India of Muslims and Gandhi was the only one who sincerely wanted India to remain united. At the most we can now only expect for India, Pakistan and possibly B'Desh to enter into a confederation keeping their sovereignties intact. That too looks difficult as all these countries have developed alliances with other powers due to strong suspicions about each other which will be difficult to reverse. After all a confederation would mean other powers would have reduced leverage over the region, reduced sale of weapons and a region which no longer takes orders on other's terms.
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Feb 06, 2017 08:56pm
This is a good news for Indians to know there senior leadership is in need of a psychiatrist.
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Feb 07, 2017 03:11am
First do a referendum in Indian occupied kashmir
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Feb 07, 2017 12:37pm
Surprisingly this news has very low media coverage in India. Authtencity is doubtful for thie news.
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Feb 07, 2017 12:57pm
Good joke by the minister. Made by day a whole lot brighter.
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Feb 07, 2017 03:17pm
lol! Wake up: Bangladesh to the east is a reality and Pakistan to the west is a reality and China to the north is a reality and Sri Lanka to the south is a reality. When all the neighbours don't want anything to do with India, the last resort of delusional thinking is to fantasize that everyone loves India! Keep talking about "theories"; but the reality is clear for all to see.
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Feb 07, 2017 03:23pm
@Zahid EU is 86% Christian! and read up on European history on what they did with heathen and non-Christians from the 8th to the 15th centuries.
It is pointless to ignore these facts. The "united states of south asia" will have hindus and Muslims and over the last 8,000 years of human history in any part of the world, monotheists and polytheists have never been able to "live under a federation".
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Feb 07, 2017 03:28pm
This is actually not a bad idea. Look at europian union and the combined cricket team will be world beaters. India brings batsmen Pak brings bowlers.
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Feb 07, 2017 04:19pm
@Zahid .not under current circumstances.
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Feb 07, 2017 04:24pm
@Pradeep . Precisely my dear Watson
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Feb 07, 2017 05:37pm
@N_Saq Kashmir issue is already removed by UN from its Agenda as Pakistan was not willing to implement the very first condition of the UN resolution.
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Feb 07, 2017 05:44pm
fantasies keep oneself happy
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Feb 07, 2017 05:56pm
Seriously! are you really a minister?
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Feb 07, 2017 06:04pm
@Syed I am from Assam, There won't be more than 300-500 cadres of ULFA who would demand to secede from India from a population of 30 million.
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Feb 07, 2017 06:32pm
You need brain surgery actually.
And who are you to say that people asking for referendum on Kashmir should be stopped when Kashmiris themselves want it.
I dont want Kashmir to just be made a part of Pakistan either. We have to be fair to the primary stakeholder i.e. the people who will be living there. And trust me whoever is good to the Kashmiri people will not face any problems with water supplies either.
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Feb 07, 2017 06:37pm
How many stones India turned over before finding Rajnath.Every government in the world has a clown, India found one.
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Feb 07, 2017 06:41pm
What a joke..? Lets do a referendum 1st in Kashmir and ask them if they want be part of India or Pakistan before talking this kind of smack..
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Feb 07, 2017 06:43pm
The man is delusional and out of his mind. He wants to fulfill RSS' dream.
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Feb 07, 2017 07:09pm
Minister's statement reflective of Indian mindset
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Feb 07, 2017 07:21pm
@Abdul Excellent reply. However, it would have been better if we could have lived together without spitting venom to each other.
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Feb 07, 2017 08:11pm
Get referendum first in Indian Punjab and IOK, then you can talk about referendum in Pakistan!!
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Feb 07, 2017 08:19pm
No way. Stop day dreaming.
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Feb 07, 2017 08:16pm
@Abdul: Marvellous reply.
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Feb 07, 2017 08:48pm
@Dil Do you really believe what you wrote..:-)
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Feb 07, 2017 08:45pm
@Jalbani Baloch Yes, India will be ready for it..
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Feb 07, 2017 08:59pm
Ok Pakistan will hold a referendum for merger, but have you the guts to hold a referendum in Kashmir? Not in whole india!
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Feb 07, 2017 09:30pm
Great. Let's start with Kashmir first .
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Feb 07, 2017 10:19pm
@LL On the dot.
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Feb 07, 2017 11:08pm
Let us start with Kashmir (Indian controlled and Pakistan controlled) and ask them who they want to merge with.
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Feb 07, 2017 11:15pm
Needless the say how delusional the current Indian so-called leadership is.
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Feb 07, 2017 11:29pm
@Ranjan if he is right let's prove it by referundum in kashmir. We should not be afraid to hold it.
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Feb 08, 2017 12:17am
@Ranjan Well said
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Feb 08, 2017 12:35am
@Ranjan Kashmir is not an internal matter. Human rights is not an internal matter. Freedom of choice is not an internal matter. India has not been able to win the hearts and the minds of Kashmiris in 70 years. They have offered blood, violence, killing, murder, rape and unmarked graves to Kashmiris. If Kashmiris were living happily with India then no country had the right to object. Kashmiris deserve their freedom both from India and Pakistan and China. It should become an independent State supported and defended by India ,Pakistan and China. Then there shall be peace in this region!
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Feb 08, 2017 02:18am
@Anir strongly ...
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Feb 08, 2017 03:19am
Rajnath Singh you are a ignorant person, you don't know any thing about the history of India and Pakistan. May be instead of rambling about nothing meaning full in an election rally, go and read some books on the history of partition. Don't forget, Kashmir is the integral part of Pakistan and will remain so.
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Feb 08, 2017 05:30am
Take care of your commandoes Minister
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Feb 08, 2017 06:10pm
@layman please read the conditions of the un resolution about the plebiscite.
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Feb 08, 2017 10:31pm
@Mirza N. Baig not possible focus on development
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Feb 09, 2017 07:08am
@Jamal As you say, better relations are urgently needed.
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Feb 09, 2017 07:15am
@Syed hello. I am from Tripura. You know which part of world tripura is. Don't comment with out knowing any thing.
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Feb 09, 2017 01:52pm
Sir why don't you have refrandum in J&K if they want be with Pakistan or India? What ever the result will be we don't know, that will be your Answer to your dream.
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