Kashmir an integral part of India, reiterates Sanjay Raut

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Friday said that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and its role is defined for the Indian people and the government.

"We are not bothered about what Pakistan says about Kashmir. The role of Kashmir in India is defined for us and for the government. We talk about a united India and not just Kashmir," said Raut when asked about Pakistan's Foreign Office statement saying that it had never accepted India's accession of Kashmir.

He reiterated that Kashmir will always remain an integral part of India, and Pakistan can never take it from India.

Pakistan on Thursday had said that it had never accepted Kashmir's accession to India and added that the United Nations Security Council's (UNSC) mandate remains till the Kashmir issue is resolved.

"As long as the Kashmir dispute is not resolved, the UNSC mandate remains. These measures are inconsequential, and they do not have any impact on the legal status of the dispute," said Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam Khan.

She was responding to media queries on the Modi Government's decision to ask the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to vacate the official building, which it has occupied for 40 years.