Shah blames Nehru for PoK's existence

Mumbai : The Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) would not have come into existence had Jawaharlal Nehru not declared untimely ceasefire with the neighbouring country, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Sunday.

Targeting Nehru over "non-integration" of Kashmir with India, he said Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the country's first home minister, should have handled the issue, instead of the then prime minister.

Addressing a rally here on the Centre's decision to abrogate Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and to campaign for the BJP for the next month's Maharashtra Assembly polls, he said, "I want to tell all BJP workers that our work doesn't end at the removal of Article 370, our work starts now."

"It is our target to take this country forward on the chapter of nationalism and progress," he said. Hitting out at the Congress and NCP, he said, they were "shamelessly" opposing the abrogation of Article 370.

Expressed confidence that Devendra Fadnavis will again be the chief minister after the Maharashtra polls on October 21, he said, "I am happy that the campaign for the state polls is beginning with the discussion on our decision to remove Articles 370 and 35(A)."