Govt's next agenda should be getting back PoK: Swamy in RS

After scrapping of Article 370, the government's next agenda should be to get back Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), Rajya Sabha nominated member Subramanian Swamy said on Monday. Supporting the resolution on removal of Article 370 -- that gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir -- moved in the Upper House, Swamy also said that now there is nothing to mediate in the Kashmir issue for the US President Donald Trump except for him to tell Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan to return the land taken illegally from India.

"Return of the territory in the possession of Pakistan is the next agenda item for us. I hope the decisiveness with which Prime Minister and Home Minister have taken this step, will take the next step also when we are ready to recover the land as per the resolution of this Parliament," he said. Swamy said during the time of Narasimha Rao government, Parliament had unanimously passed a resolution to take back Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Asserting that other elements were taking advantage as long as Article 370 was in place, he said, "in fact, certain elements were encouraged recently by the fact that Imran Khan met the US President and the US president mistakenly said he is willing to mediate." "There is nothing to mediate. A370 is gone, there is nothing to mediate except for Mr. Trump to tell Mr. Imran Khan to return the land which they took illegally from India which is part of Azad Kashmir," he added. Attacking the Congress party for being "ignorant" of the law, Swamy said A370 can be removed with President's order and does not require any amendment to the Constitution of India.

"The Constituent assembly concluded proceedings in 1956 and recommended the preamble of J&K constitution which says will be an inalienable part of India. J&K is integral part of India. It is there is in the J&K constitution. There is no mention of A370 in the constitution. Therefore what appears to me is that the Congress party leaders are totally ignorant of the law.

They are unaware what law says," he said. Stating that the Modi government is proceeding on the basis of law, Swamy said, "Bringing a resolution was additional recognition that this should be informed to Parliament. Hence on this basis, I say the removal of A370 was overdue and A370 headline is a temporary provision." He further said that A370 was "one-sided" and it died the day when 5,00,000 Kashmiri pandits and Sikhs were driven out.

"Not one word was said in their favor nor an attempt been made for their return. How can you have A370 in one way direction? It cannot be. Therefore, A370 has been violated multiple times by parties which were ruling the state before President's rule," he added. Swamy also alleged the Opposition was objecting to the scrapping of A370, which is a temporary provision, because of "vested interest".