- The situation in PoK has become tense
- Goods including electricity, flour are very expensive
- They are protesting the price increase
The situation in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir is very tense. People are protesting due to the steep increase in the prices of essential commodities including electricity and flour. Let’s know what External Affairs Minister Jaishankar has reacted to this
What did the foreign minister say?
At an event in Kolkata, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said that there has been a significant increase in unrest in PoK today. It’s complicated to analyze but I certainly have no doubt that anyone living in PoK will compare their lives to those living in Jammu and Kashmir. They must have seen that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are making progress. They may be feeling that they are being mistreated, they are being discriminated against.
PoK has always been an integral part of India- S.Jaishankar
The External Affairs Minister further said that PoK has always been and will remain an integral part of India. There was not much discussion about PoK until Article 370 was removed from Jammu and Kashmir. He said that in the 1990s, Western countries put pressure on us, after which Parliament unanimously passed a resolution on PoK. Regarding Article 370, it was said that this is a temporary provision and it should not have been kept in force for so long. This was promoting separatism, violence and terrorism on the one hand.
Why are protests happening in PoK?
Importantly, a joint Awami Action Committee formed by social activists, businessmen and lawyers in PoK had marched to the capital Muzaffarabad against rising prices of essential commodities and tax hikes for the past few days. People have taken to the streets. Police SI Adnan Qureshi was shot dead by someone from the crowd on Sunday. The death toll has reached three. Including two demonstrators and one SI. More than 100 people have been injured in this clash.
Demand for subsidy for electricity and flour
The protests have started following the hike in the prices of electricity and other essential commodities. In view of these protests, the Shahbaz Sharif government has approved a budget of Rs 23 billion for PoK with immediate effect. Immediately after the meeting with Shahbaz Sharif, PoK Prime Minister Haque announced a reduction in electricity rates. Haque said local residents have been demanding cheaper electricity and subsidy on lot for the past few days.
