POK may be renamed Pakistan-Occupied Jammu & Kashmir?

New Delhi: If the buzz is to be believed, tThe Narendra Modi government is reportedly weighing a proposal to re-name Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir or PoK as Pakistan-Occupied Jammu-Kashmir. This gives us a clear signal of a tactical shift in the Centre's approach to Jammu and Kashmir. Reportedly, BJP has the highest priority for the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits. Sources said the new BJP-led government wants a unified approach on the state that will amend what is seen as a Kashmir centric approach.

Here in this milieu, the only argument is that calling the region Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir neglects two big portions of the state - Ladakh and Jammu, which are larger both in terms of size and demography. The ruling National

Conference has dismissed the plan as a make-up.

Tanvir Sadiq, Political Adviser of J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, wondered How does it help by stating the entire issue as all cosmetic.

From the other end, Jitendra Singh, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, on Thursday extended his good wishes to the people of Jammu and Kashmir on the occasion of Khir Bhawani festival, mentioning that the country was committed to dignified return of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley.