RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat: "Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir Is a Room in India's House That Must Be Reclaimed"

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's remarks coincide with ongoing protests in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK).

New Delhi:

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has described Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) as "a room in India's house" that has been occupied by strangers and needs to be reclaimed. He made these comments during an event in Madhya Pradesh's Satna, according to ANI.

"Many Sindhi brothers are sitting here. I am very happy. They did not go to Pakistan; they went to undivided India. Circumstances have sent us here from that home because that home and this home are not different," stated Bhagwat, who leads the BJP's ideological mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), receiving enthusiastic applause.

"The whole of India is one home, but someone has removed one room of our house where my table, chair, and clothes used to be kept. They have occupied it. Tomorrow, I have to take it back..." he continued as the audience responded with supportive clapping.

Bhagwat's statements come amid escalating unrest in PoK, where locals are increasingly rebelling against Pakistani authority. Thousands of residents have united under the Awami Action Committee (AAC) banner, demanding economic relief and political reforms.

The situation has turned violent, with 10 people killed and over 100 injured in the past three days as Pakistani forces clashed with protesters. Four demonstrators were shot dead in Dhirkot (Bagh district) alone, with additional casualties reported in PoK's Muzaffarabad, Dadyal (Mirpur), and Chamyati near Kohala.

According to analysts, Pakistan's preference for repression over dialogue has aggravated tensions in this strategically important region.

Experts note that these protests by PoK residents against Pakistani rule expose the falsehoods Islamabad has propagated since 1947. The unrest also reveals the true nature of those who have long spread anti-India propaganda regarding Jammu and Kashmir.

Earlier on Thursday, the RSS chief had emphasized the importance of enhancing security capabilities. He observed that international responses to the Pahalgam terror attack revealed the genuine nature of India's global alliances.

Bhagwat said these responses served as a test of "who our friends are in the global arena and to what extent they are willing to stand by us." He added that India's political leadership and military provided a "fitting response" that demonstrated the leadership's firmness, the armed forces' valor, and society's determination and unity.

This current wave of protests in PoK highlights the growing disconnect between local residents and Islamabad, with critics warning of increasing instability. Pakistan's continued use of repressive measures instead of dialogue has only exacerbated tensions in this strategically critical region.