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This is an archive article published on May 19, 2024

Who stopped BJP from making PoK part of India in last 10 years: Sanjay Raut

UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union Home Minister had said during Lok Sabh election rallies that PoK would be part of India if PM Modi returns to power at the Centre.

Raut said Modi turned his focus on Pakistan after Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar handed him an ideal opportunity.Raut said Modi turned his focus on Pakistan after Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar handed him an ideal opportunity.

A day after Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) would be within India after Narendra Modi becomes the prime minister once again, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday sought to know from the BJP who stopped it from doing so in the last ten years of the party’s rule at the Centre.

”First, it was Union Home Minister (Amit Shah) and then UP Chief Minister (Adityanath); Both have said that PoK will be brought within India. But I want to ask, who has stopped them from doing so in the last 10 years,” Raut told The Indian Express. While Adityanath made the statement in Vasai in the Palghar district of Maharashtra on Saturday, Shah had made a similar statement in Palghar earlier.

In his weekly column Rokhthok, published in the party mouthpiece Saamana, Raut raised the same issue of the BJP ”tom-tomming” about bringing PoK within India’s fold.

Instead of taking up the PoK issue in Palghar or Vasai areas, Raut said, the BJP leaders should raise their voices in Srinagar. ”Isn’t that an ideal place to speak about PoK?” he asked.

Raut said PM Modi made a new declaration during campaigning. “He has said we will make Pakistan wear bangles. But when is the key question. PM Modi invited Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to his swearing-in ceremony. And it was Modi who suddenly landed in Pakistan to wish its prime minister a happy birthday and cut cake.”

Raut said Modi turned his focus on Pakistan after Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar handed him an ideal opportunity. ”BJP needs Pakistan as an election issue. And it is Congress leaders providing the BJP an election in the form of Pakistan. Since Mani Shankar Aiyar raised the issue of Pakistan, BJP has kept the issue alive during campaigning,” he said.

Raut was referring to the BJP’s attack on the Congress over a video of former Union minister and Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar’s comments on Pakistan. In a video that went viral on social media, Aiyar was heard saying that India should accord due respect to Pakistan and hold talks with it. The Congress distanced itself from the comment and said the BJP was attempting to “deflect attention from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s daily goof-ups.”

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Raut said that BJP’s election campaign is incomplete without mentioning Muslims and Pakistan.

The Sena MP said Pakistan is dear to PM Modi and Amit Shah. ”Pakistan has no democracy. Likewise, Modi-Shah are trying to finish off the democracy in India. In Pakistan, the election commission and judiciary have become a farce. Political leaders are being put in jail. The picture is no different in India. In Modi’s India, Pakistan formula is being used,” he said.

Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis. Professional Legacy Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles. Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change. Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities. Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees. Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area: 1. Political Shifts & Alliances "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala. "BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls. "Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections. "NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections. 2. Civic & Administrative Accountability "PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions. "93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads. 3. Social & Labor Issues "As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra. "Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse. Signature Beat Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport. X (Twitter): @manojmore91982 ... Read More


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