Pakistan rejects Modi's claims about 'democracy' in occupied Kashmir
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Pakistan on Saturday rejected the "preposterous and fallacious" claims by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi about "democracy" in occupied Kashmir, following the so-called elections of the District Development Council.
In a statement, the Foreign Office (FO) spokesman said: "The RSS-BJP brand of ‘democracy’ only means the muzzling of the Kashmiri voice and will, under the bayonets of Indian army guns."
The District Council election, which concluded early this week, was the first such exercise since Modi’s government last year revoked the special status of the region. On Saturday, New Delhi cracked down on the opposition and rounded up hundreds of people to preempt protests and violence after an alliance of regional political parties won the polls.
Earlier today, the Indian prime minister lashed out at his country's opposition, saying that the "peaceful election" in occupied Kashmir was a mirror to those who "teach me democracy every day".
According to Hindustan Times, Modi's statement was in response to comments made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who had said that there is no democracy in India. In his address, Modi also said that the "transparent" elections in occupied Kashmir and the people's participation were a moment of pride for India, Times of India reported.
Responding to the Modi's address, the FO spokesman said: "The ‘new chapter’ that the RSS-BJP regime is writing in occupied Kashmir is one marked by the brutal military siege since August 5, 2019, egregious violations of human rights in the occupied territory, and untold sufferings for the Kashmiri people.
"False Indian narratives can neither deceive the Kashmiri people nor mislead the international community. Nor can they divert attention from the core issue of the Kashmiris’ inalienable right to self-determination."
Rather than resort to diversions and obfuscations, India should end its illegal occupation and meet its obligation of holding a plebiscite allowing the Kashmiris to exercise their right of self-determination as enshrined in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, the statement said.
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On DawnNews
Comments (102) Closed
Dec 26, 2020 08:09pm
Real democracy only thrives in Pakistan
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Dec 26, 2020 08:10pm
"Responding to the Modi's address" is a false statement , it should be "Reacting to the Modi's address"
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Dec 26, 2020 08:10pm
Modi talking about Democracy.
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Dec 26, 2020 08:28pm
Who asked for your approval?
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Dec 26, 2020 08:29pm
"Democracy in Kashmir"?
It's a farce!
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Dec 26, 2020 08:30pm
It makes no difference now - everything is over. Your comments on Kashmir stands no weightage. People have come out in large and voted. So it is better you focus on your internal mess and the mess created by your FO.
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Dec 26, 2020 08:30pm
Farcical isn’t strong enough.
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Dec 26, 2020 08:31pm
The real democracy is in Pakistan, the world knows , How the Hindus and Christian population growing in Pakistan.
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Dec 26, 2020 08:33pm
Democratic processes can be imperfect. But as they say it is better than breaking heads or selecting.
But the elementary thing is that the party with the majority must be permitted to rule. And Pakistan which didn't let awami league to come to power is shamelessly preaching.
As if anybody cares.
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Dec 26, 2020 08:36pm
What about the untold suffering of Pakistanis due to price rise. Any comment. Do we matter to our beloved PM?
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Dec 26, 2020 08:43pm
Modi thinks he can keep lying to the world like he lies to his countrymen.
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Dec 26, 2020 08:44pm
" Pakistan rejects Modi's claims about 'democracy' in occupied Kashmir...."
Pakistan Lecturing India on Democracy....??? Are you Serious.....???
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Dec 26, 2020 08:46pm
I think Modi did an excellent job by conducting the elections in kashmir without a single lathi charge! How it become possible, where are those "non-state actors"! i think modi put the gun against IK to get the elections completed peacefully! Kudos to modi & all those who participated in democratic exercises!
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Dec 26, 2020 08:49pm
No body cares whether you reject or accept democracy in Indian Kashmir. BJP emerged as the single largest party in DDC elections in jammu and Kashmir. It polled majority of votes more than any other single party. It clearly implies people of Kashmir rejected 370 and abdullahs muftis.
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Dec 26, 2020 08:52pm
What ever you write, Kashmiris are thinking on different way. They can feel the peace now, no major terror attacks, mojor developments already happening. People are ready to integrate with rest of the country fully. Now India will turn into gilgit and baltistan
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Dec 26, 2020 08:56pm
Sour grapes! Happy for the independent candidates who won in large numbers. Goes to show the fairness of the elections.
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Dec 26, 2020 08:58pm
Pakistan is teaching democracy, what a joke.
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Dec 26, 2020 08:59pm
Daily life cycle of PTI government:
Eat,
Say sentences containing 'RSS', 'Hindutva', 'Fascist' words.
Sleep
Repeat.
Honestly, even I feel this is getting a bit out of hand now. First let's concentrate and improve our own situation then comment on other countries' situation.
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Dec 26, 2020 08:59pm
What is this “reject” thing? You should say “disagree”. The statement was never made for you to reject. Anyway we have to keep our expectations low since this is Pakistanis we’re talking about.
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Dec 26, 2020 08:59pm
Mr. Modi , please tell us the size of army deployed in peaceful and Kashmir, where life is back to normal .freedom is speech , freedom of movement are daily norm .
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Dec 26, 2020 09:00pm
Rejection rejected
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Dec 26, 2020 09:03pm
"Pakistan rejects Modi's claims about 'democracy' in occupied Kashmir". Modi is doing his job in such a way that it is giving fits to Modi haters.
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Dec 26, 2020 09:08pm
Are you saying the election was fraudulent and the winners don't deserve to the leaders..
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Dec 26, 2020 09:11pm
The BJP muzzled so much that 80% of kashmiris showed up to vote in several places, the lowest voter turnout happened to be about 60%. What a strange way of muzzling when a majority stand in line to vote for their own future.
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Dec 26, 2020 09:13pm
When is the last time free elections were held in pakistani balochistan, KPK or pak held kashmir? And when did people show up in such large numbers to vote - not for "selected" PM or whatever but for genuine elections?
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Dec 26, 2020 09:14pm
"meet its obligation of holding a plebiscite " -- Can Pakistan help India by doing the first of the 4 steps in UN resolution? UNR-Step1 : Pakistan vacates its part of occupied Kashmir.
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Dec 26, 2020 09:14pm
Pakistan should take the first step, withdraw all non-Kashmiris and conduct plebiscite in its part of Kashmir. Let’s see how many vote for remaining in Pakistan. After all, you can’t preach what you don’t practice.
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Dec 26, 2020 09:15pm
Rejected outright. Elections are null and void. This is like Iran conducting elections in Baluchistan. What a shame, everyone need to check the latest maps and follow the boundaries.
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Dec 26, 2020 09:16pm
Seems IK is getting sleepless nights and heartburn
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Dec 26, 2020 09:16pm
Keep rejecting. Like it matters.
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Dec 26, 2020 09:20pm
India has already rejected Pakistan FO statement as Pakistan has no locus standi.
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Dec 26, 2020 09:26pm
Everybody in India and the whole world was eagerly waiting for the final verdict of Pakistan.
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Dec 26, 2020 09:30pm
Everybody in India and the whole world has been eagerly waiting for Pakistan´s final verdict on the subject. Now as it has come out, the world will reject this election and India will be in serious trouble. First of all make a self assessment before making any funny comments. Nuclear weapon alone will not make any nation superior or great.
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Dec 26, 2020 09:32pm
The rejection or approval has no relevance . The bottom line the situation in Indian Occupied Kashmir turned different from the genocide claims . Their CoVid statistics , local election turnout , economic revitalization and welfare data all prove their destiny is in better hands than AJK The question that needs answering is how do we prevent the rest of Kashmir from falling. We can continue to live in delusion or create a vibrant economy and open governance in AJK so that they won’t revolt.
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Dec 26, 2020 09:37pm
Dear Mr. Prime Minister,, You have lot of internal problems right now including protecting your chair. Why can't you concentrate on your domestic issues ?
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Dec 26, 2020 09:41pm
Pakistan should look at its own form of military sponsored elections and save some grace
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Dec 26, 2020 10:01pm
Pakistan don't have weight in words. A wise and valuable always speaks less and valuable at the right moment.
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Dec 26, 2020 10:07pm
Does anyone really care about your rejection. No one really bothered to react on Modi's statement around the world.
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Dec 26, 2020 10:08pm
Modi keeps repeating the same expecting to get away with it
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Dec 26, 2020 10:17pm
FO seems to forget that Kashmiris voted whole heartedly for the PAGD candidates. You can argue how the election was conducted, but it was the Kashmiris themselves who voted. If the Kashmiris didn't want to vote for the PAGD (none of whom want plebiscite or anything to do with Pakistan), they wouldn't have voted at all. That would mean Kashmiris are ok with their right to vote, and do not want any plebiscite.
Or is the FO saying Kashmiris' votes do not count, and the UN should intervene anyway?
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Dec 26, 2020 10:21pm
as long as the part of J&K is left in his control Modi will say and do whatever he likes and the way he likes. what's 'the use of mere hot breath when no effective and tangible steps are being taken to force him out. he will continue exploiting and abusing the lack of practical action by the pakistan government.
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Dec 26, 2020 10:21pm
I agree. We should learn the democracy from Pak..
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Dec 26, 2020 10:26pm
Another rejection what next.
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Dec 26, 2020 10:28pm
Who are you to reject?
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Dec 26, 2020 10:36pm
Modi commented on opposition parties. Why Pakistan had to react?
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Dec 26, 2020 10:37pm
Did India request you to accept it?
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Dec 26, 2020 10:57pm
Does really anybody cares for this comment. Even as a Pakistan born Muslim I like this achievement of Indian Democracy to crack open Kashmir. I do not see any chance of being Kashmir Banega Pakistan atleast during Imran’s tenure. May be, we are for a long long wait.
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Dec 26, 2020 11:05pm
Another rejection by FO!
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Dec 26, 2020 11:07pm
Pak you better first take care of your country and people as your political leaders messed up a great region!
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Dec 26, 2020 11:24pm
Incoming Indian trolls.....
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Dec 27, 2020 12:03am
Pakistan should not poking nose in India's internal affairs.
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Dec 27, 2020 12:08am
India rejects Imran Khan's claim of democracy in Pakistan and Pak occupied Kashmir .
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Dec 27, 2020 12:15am
Does anybody care?
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Dec 27, 2020 12:18am
No rejection matters.. That's reality
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Dec 27, 2020 12:24am
The Foreign Office in Islamabad, Islamic Republic of Pakistan is 100 percent right.
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Dec 27, 2020 12:27am
Modi sir, No question of congress till 2029 elections. 1.38 billion people are with you. We know you are the problem solver. You are half way through this kashmir issue. We hope you would resolve the issue fully by 2029.
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Dec 27, 2020 12:29am
Like somebody listens or cares. Grow up people that place is lost and will be with India, you better focus on rest of the place..
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Dec 27, 2020 12:33am
Primary focus of Pakistan now is to get out from the Grey list and also making sure that the terrorism isn't budding in its soil (both internally and externally). They have to understand that gone is gone and International community is standing with the Indians. There will be some ears if the mentioned points are completed else other than the people at Pakistan nobody listens to it.
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Dec 27, 2020 12:55am
Did anyone asked Pakistan to validate the claim?
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Dec 27, 2020 01:13am
What difference does it male? Or did you expect a different reaction?
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Dec 27, 2020 01:44am
what dofference u can make apart from yelling
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Dec 27, 2020 02:17am
Ok
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Dec 27, 2020 03:19am
Who in the world listens to these statements from FO except for local consumption?
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Dec 27, 2020 03:42am
No one asked for IK's comments
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Dec 27, 2020 03:43am
Of course, Indian should learn what democracy is from Pakistan.
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Dec 27, 2020 04:12am
Selected talking about democracy
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Dec 27, 2020 04:18am
What does Pakistan know about Democracy? Learn from the largest and one of the longest living developing nation.
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Dec 27, 2020 04:23am
world recognize and believe what India said,,India don't need your confirmation.
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Dec 27, 2020 05:15am
It is pathetic to note that FO quotes an MP's (Rahul) words. Rahul is considered a joker by most of the Indians. He has failed to bring democracy to the congress party itself.
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Dec 27, 2020 05:16am
No need for a certificate from FO
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Dec 27, 2020 05:44am
FO can do better than this...
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Dec 27, 2020 05:47am
Pakistan should stop dreaming about Kashmir and devote energy and time for our people here.
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Dec 27, 2020 05:50am
Can a Islamic republic preach anybody on democracy... Pakistan shud focus on next instalment instead
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Dec 27, 2020 05:55am
Facts on ground
Election had more than 50% voting...
Bjp emerged as single largest party...
It got the highest votes... More than 38%
Other parties also got good votes
Festival of democracy succeeded
India started to undo rigged election of 1988
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Dec 27, 2020 05:58am
Big turn out and long lines of kashmirs voting demonstrates democracy. PM must be dreaming of something else.
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Dec 27, 2020 06:04am
Story about monkey cutting his own body with sharp razor is old but true. The people of India mustn’t vote BJP in future. The Modi Admin is only serving the Ambanis, Adanis. Be it Rafales or Farmers Act, there’s a rich elites behind as beneficiaries. Despite -ve GDP, unemployment, and instability in Punjab, Haryana, UP,
you are lingering on with Covid-19, ordinary common people dying, and Godi Media covering up. India is sick today, very bad rather worse state of affairs. Indians plz take care.
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Dec 27, 2020 06:43am
election was successful
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Dec 27, 2020 06:44am
Over 80% voter turnout in some places and the world needs to learn about democracy from "selected" govt of pakistan?
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Dec 27, 2020 06:52am
Shekh Mujibur was elected democratically in East Pakistan, after that what happened we all know. In Kashmir just d opposite is happening. Ppl from valley who largely boycotted election in d past r whole heartedly taking part in election.
Request to Pakistani govt, give peace a chance. Let celebrate win of democracy in Kashmir valley. Let Kashmiri enjoy d win.
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Dec 27, 2020 06:58am
Rejection Galore Office !
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Dec 27, 2020 06:59am
Pakistan should set a good example of democracy here rather than find faults with kashmir local elections. In fact people lined up to vote which says something.
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Dec 27, 2020 07:07am
So what?
Who cares?
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Dec 27, 2020 07:07am
Since when did India needed Pakistan's certificate on democracy?
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Dec 27, 2020 07:21am
Who are you to accept or reject any claim ?
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Dec 27, 2020 07:21am
Who cares ?
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Dec 27, 2020 07:22am
Does WHO care?
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Dec 27, 2020 07:24am
FO has only one option. Reject it !
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Dec 27, 2020 07:24am
How does it matter whether Pakistan accepts it or not? Has India ever said that they reject Pakistan's claim to its democracy? If India did that, you would tell India to mind its own business, would you not?
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Dec 27, 2020 07:33am
India became even more joke in these recent times .
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Dec 27, 2020 07:40am
India rejects the rejection
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Dec 27, 2020 07:44am
India does not need Pakistan approval.
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Dec 27, 2020 07:49am
India rejects the Pakistan's rejection
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Dec 27, 2020 07:54am
Rejections? Any thing new?
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Dec 27, 2020 07:59am
As if it matters to India.
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Dec 27, 2020 08:01am
A few days ago, this newspaper was claiming the defeat of the BJP in the same elections.
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Dec 27, 2020 08:02am
Modi and his mockery of elections in IOK. Won't have the guts to have UN as witness. Liberation and joining Pakistan only inevitability.
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Dec 27, 2020 08:51am
@Kaaga, jokes or no jokes... Its going to be Indian Constitution that'll work in Jammu and Kashmir and our PM has the guts to do what he said he'll do when he won the second time with a resounding victory in 2019 elections.... So we can understand the heaetburns.... Its natural
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Dec 27, 2020 10:22am
People need job,peace and stability in their daily lives ,they don't care whether it is Pakistan,China or India ruling them as long as they get these.
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Dec 27, 2020 11:07am
@Punjabis Chronicles
Majority of Indians are very happy with Modi as the Prime Minister. The BJP is the only party the people can trust. They will be voted in power again during the next election. Since the BJP has taken over India, they have progressed very rapidity, which the Congress could not achieve for the last 70 years.
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Dec 27, 2020 04:18pm
Huge turnout in Kashmir voting.
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Dec 27, 2020 06:23pm
@Zak, UN as witness, never heard of.?
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Dec 27, 2020 06:55pm
Does rejection remove all those elected from office?
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