Leaders across India's political spectrum on Friday, 12 June sharply condemned Pakistan following reports that dozens of civilians were killed during police action against protesters in multiple parts of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK). The cross-party condemnation was united on one point: PoK is an integral part of India, and the alleged violence against its people cannot be overlooked.

Congress, Sena, SP Speak in One Voice

Congress MP Imran Masood was unequivocal in his statement: 'PoK is ours. It is called PoK because it is occupied by Pakistan. It is a part of Kashmir. The people there are facing atrocities, and they want to be part of India.'

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam described PoK as an 'ulcer' for India, calling for the region's return. 'Every Indian wants the safety of civilians in PoK. It is a part of India and the broken part of Kashmir. It is high time that PoK is now returned to India and rejoined with Jammu and Kashmir,' he said. Samajwadi Party (SP) spokesperson Ashutosh Verma added that his party stands firmly with the Indian government on the issue.

UN Intervention Demanded

All India Muslim Jamaat President Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Bareilvi urged the United Nations to intervene, citing what he described as indiscriminate firing on civilians who were protesting against rising prices of essential goods. 'I appeal the United Nations to interfere over such incidents taking place in PoK,' he said.

Bareilvi further called for human rights officials to visit the region, conduct an impartial investigation, and inform the international community about the alleged targeting of civilians by the Pakistani Army.

JD-U Warns of 'Volcanic Eruption'

Janata Dal (United) National Spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad linked the unrest to a growing sense of frustration among PoK residents, particularly as development and employment opportunities in Kashmir have accelerated on the Indian side. He warned that the ongoing oppression by Pakistani authorities is pushing the situation toward what he called a 'volcanic eruption.'

Background and What It Signals

The protests in PoK reportedly erupted over rising prices of essential commodities, a grievance that has simmered for months in the region. The reported police crackdown, in which dozens are said to have been killed, has drawn comparisons to earlier episodes of civil unrest in the territory. This comes amid heightened tensions along the Line of Control (LoC) and growing international scrutiny of Pakistan's human rights record. Notably, the cross-party consensus in India — spanning the ruling alliance and the opposition — reflects the politically sensitive nature of the Kashmir issue ahead of any future diplomatic engagements.

With Indian leaders demanding accountability and international intervention, the focus now shifts to whether the United Nations Human Rights Council or other multilateral bodies will take cognisance of the reported violence in PoK.