Defence Minister Rajnath Singh made an impassioned appeal to the residents of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), urging them to unite with India, emphasizing that India considers them "our own," unlike Pakistan, which treats them as outsiders. Singh made these remarks during an election rally in the Ramban assembly constituency, where he was campaigning for BJP candidate Rakesh Singh Thakur.

The minister highlighted the significant improvements in Jammu and Kashmir's security situation since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. According to Singh, the region has witnessed a transformation, with youths now holding laptops and computers instead of weapons. He pointed out that the situation in Srinagar has stabilized to the point where incidents of violence, such as shootings, are no longer occurring.

Addressing the voters, Singh asked for their support to help the BJP form the next government in J&K, promising massive development in the region. He expressed his belief that with visible progress, even residents of PoK would wish to join India instead of staying with Pakistan, which recently referred to PoK as a "foreign land" in an affidavit.

The defence minister criticized opposition parties like the National Conference (NC) and Congress for their promise to restore Article 370, asserting that such a move would be impossible under BJP leadership. He further underscored the importance of strong and decisive leadership at both the national and state levels to ensure continued security and development.

Singh also reflected on his time as Home Minister, recalling efforts to engage with separatist leaders in Kashmir for peace talks, which ultimately did not yield the desired results. He reiterated that revoking Article 370 had been a bold step, contrary to opposition fears that it would lead to unrest in the region.

In his speech, Singh praised the people of Jammu and Kashmir for their hard work and resilience, stating that if BJP came to power, the region would become a modern and thriving state. He highlighted the government's commitment to improving infrastructure, increasing connectivity, and ensuring the development of border villages, which are now considered "first villages" of the country rather than the last.

Singh also took a jab at NC leader Omar Abdullah over his stance on the hanging of parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, questioning whether Abdullah believed Guru should have been honored instead of facing justice.

Singh concluded by promoting the BJP's election manifesto, which includes guarantees for the safe return and rehabilitation of displaced Kashmiri Pandits and transforming Jammu and Kashmir into a modern state.