Would have offered Pakistan more money than IMF aid if..: Rajnath Singh

Gurez (Jammu and Kashmir): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said ‘not a single person’ should be left out from voting in the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, news agency ANI reported.

Calling it not an ordinary election, Rajnath Singh added that it is a demonstration of India's democracy and its strength.

Taking a dig at Pakistan, Singh said that India would have given the neighouring country more money than it had requested from the International Monetary Fund if there was a better relationship.

During the stump speech at a rally in Gurez at Bandipore area, the Defence Minster quoted former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee as having once said that nobody could stop Kashmir from becoming heaven again when Insaniyat, Jamuhriyat, and Kashmiriyat came together.

The Minister further said: ‘The election in Jammu and Kashmir is not just any ordinary election; it is a demonstration of India's democracy and its strength. I want to ensure that not a single person is left who doesn't vote.’

Highlighting the Prime Minister's Development Package (PMDP), launched by PM Modi in 2015 for Jammu and Kashmir, Rajnath Singh said PM package has now increased, adding ‘Pakistan was requesting to IMF for a fund lesser than this’.

‘If there had been a better relationship, we would have given more money to Pakistan than what they have asked from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), he was quoted as saying.

The Defence Minister said agencies probing terrorist activities in Kashmir always found Pakistan’s involvement in them.

Praising the courage of people at the rally he said no one could weaken democracy in Kashmir, adding Pakistan did not want democracy in Jammu and Kashmir.