JAMMU, Jun 14: Senior BJP leader and former Minister Bali Bhagat today said that the historic 1994 Parliamentary Resolution on Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) remains India’s unwavering national commitment and asserted that Pakistan must vacate the illegally occupied territory sooner or later.
Bhagat said the growing unrest, protests and public resentment in PoJK have exposed the failure of Pakistan’s oppressive rule and demonstrated that the people of the occupied territory are increasingly rejecting Islamabad’s control and wants to join India.
“Due to Pakistan’s continued atrocities, political suppression, economic exploitation and denial of democratic rights, the people of PoJK themselves are raising their voices against Islamabad. Pakistan has forcibly occupied the territory and its people against their wishes. The growing protests across PoJK clearly show that people are fed up with Pakistan’s repression and want dignity, development, democracy and freedom from Islamabad’s misrule,” Bhagat said.
Launching a blistering attack on Pakistan for what he described as its “brutal colonial-style rule” in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, while simultaneously targeting the NC, PDP and Congress for maintaining a “deafening silence” over the worsening human rights situation across the Line of Control, Bhagat recalled the unanimous Parliamentary Resolution of 1994 and said India has never compromised on its position that the entire Jammu and Kashmir, including PoJK, is an integral part of India.
“The 1994 Parliamentary Resolution was passed unanimously by both Houses of Parliament and reflected the collective will of the nation. India’s position is crystal clear and non-negotiable. Pakistan’s illegal occupation of PoJK has no legal, moral or historical basis. Pakistan must understand that PoJK is not its property and cannot remain under illegal occupation forever,” Bhagat said.
He asserted that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, India has transformed Jammu and Kashmir through development, democracy, transparency and good governance, while Pakistan continues to rule PoJK through fear, force and intimidation.
“India has normalized Jammu and Kashmir through constitutional reforms, grassroots democracy, massive infrastructure development and empowerment of people. Pakistan, on the other hand, has normalized oppression, censorship, political persecution and human rights violations in PoJK. The contrast could not be clearer,” he said.
Referring to recent protests, unrest and reports of crackdowns in PoJK, Bhagat said the people of the occupied territories have begun openly challenging Islamabad’s authority because they are exhausted by decades of neglect, corruption, discrimination and suppression.
“The people of PoJK are demanding basic rights, jobs, electricity, governance, economic opportunities and dignity. Pakistan’s answer has been arrests, baton charges, intimidation, internet restrictions and suppression of dissent. This is the true face of the Pakistani establishment that lectures the world on human rights while systematically violating them in territories under its control,” Bhagat said.
Launching a sharp attack on the National Conference, Peoples Democratic Party and Congress, Bhagat questioned why leaders who frequently criticize India remain silent when Pakistan suppresses democratic voices and violates human rights in PoJK.
“Whenever there is an opportunity to target India, these parties compete with each other to issue statements. But when Pakistan brutalizes innocent civilians, arrests activists, crushes protests and silences democratic voices in PoJK, they suddenly become mute spectators. Their hypocrisy stands completely exposed before the nation,” he said.
Bhagat accused Pakistan of attempting to hide its failures through anti-India propaganda while ignoring the growing anger among people living under its occupation.
“No amount of propaganda can hide the fact that Pakistan has failed the people of PoJK. The region faces economic distress, political instability, unemployment and systematic denial of rights. Islamabad fears democracy because it knows the people no longer trust its rule. The ongoing protests are not merely against economic hardship; they are a direct rejection of Pakistan’s oppressive governance model,” he said.
The former Minister further said that Pakistan’s continuous efforts to internationalize Jammu and Kashmir have collapsed as the world increasingly recognizes India’s democratic achievements and developmental transformation in the region.
“Pakistan should stop dreaming about Kashmir and start answering questions about its own illegal occupation. The people of PoJK know who has delivered development and who has delivered repression. They know where democracy flourishes and where it is crushed. The truth is becoming impossible for Islamabad to hide,” he added.
Bhagat said the developments in PoJK have once again exposed the stark difference between democratic India and Pakistan’s authoritarian approach in the occupied territories.
“While India conducts elections, strengthens democratic institutions and empowers citizens, Pakistan responds to public demands with force, intimidation and crackdowns. The voices emerging from PoJK today are a verdict against Pakistan’s decades of exploitation and repression,” he said.
Calling upon international human rights organizations and the global community to take note of developments in PoJK, Bhagat said Pakistan must be held accountable for suppressing civil liberties, democratic rights and human dignity.
“The world cannot continue to ignore the suffering of people living under Pakistan’s occupation. Every genuine defender of democracy and human rights must speak against these violations and hold Pakistan accountable,” he said.
Reaffirming BJP’s position, Bhagat said the 1994 Parliamentary Resolution remains India’s unwavering national commitment and reflects the aspirations of the entire nation.
“PoJK is an integral part of India. Pakistan’s illegal occupation is a historical anomaly that cannot be justified indefinitely. The voice emerging from PoJK today is not merely a protest against governance failures; it is a powerful indictment of Pakistan’s oppressive policies. The days of misleading the world are over. Pakistan stands exposed before the international community and before the very people it claims to represent. The 1994 Resolution remains India’s solemn commitment, and history will not validate illegal occupation,” Bali Bhagat said.