Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who kick-started the party’s campaign for the upcoming Assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday (September 4, 2024), said his party would “restore statehood to J&K after coming to power”.
“The BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) has to announce the restoration of statehood to J&K, else the INDIA (Indian National Developmental, Inclusive Alliance) bloc will be doing it as its first step after dethroning Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party. We will ensure the return of statehood to the region, whether the BJP wants it or not. We will pressurise the government under the banner of the INDIA alliance,” Mr. Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, said.
Mr. Gandhi was addressing supporters in Anantnag’s Dooru in south Kashmir. In a show of strength, he was joined by National Conference president Farooq Abdullah and NC MP Mian Altaf. The two parties are contesting the 90-seat Assembly election jointly.
Mr. Gandhi also targeted the BJP for turning J&K into a Union Territory. “J&K was a State and downgraded to two Union Territories. The term democracy fits with a State that has its own Assembly, where issues are discussed and laws are made. All such things were snatched [from J&K],” Mr. Gandhi said.
The Congress leader addressed two elections rallies in Ramban and Dooru. “Open a shop of love where the BJP will set up a shop of hate,” he said, adding, “We will win the battle by promoting brotherhood and harmony.”
He said the BJP had failed Kashmiri Pandits too and “exploited them for vote bank politics only”.
Dr. Abdullah also spoke at the rally. “Let us unite and defeat the forces who are hellbent to take away J&K’s identity,” he said.
The Congress also released a five-point “charge-sheet” against the BJP. It said the voice of the people in J&K was “being suppressed”. “An unelected Lieutenant-Governor (L-G), appointed from Delhi, holds all power, and despite promises, the restoration of statehood has been denied to the proud people of J&K, treating them as second-class citizens,” the Congress’s “charge-sheet” said.
The party also pointed out that “outsiders”, in an apparent reference to people from outside J&K, were being allocated land, resources, and jobs, while locals in J&K grappled with rising prices, high taxes, water shortages, and poverty, apart from issues with the electricity supply, and excessive billing for it through smart meters.
“Corruption is reportedly being encouraged from the top, starting in the L-G’s own office, with mining, liquor, and construction contracts awarded to cronies. Moreover, those who attempt to expose corruption face ruthless prosecution,” the party alleged.
The Congress leader referred to the reign of kings in J&K prior to 1947. “The Maharajas were sidelined to pave the way for democracy and an elected government. However, we have an L-G. The ‘L-G’ word is a wrong term. It should be ‘Raja’ of the 21st century. He acts at his will,” Mr. Gandhi said.
The BJP reacted sharply to Mr. Gandhi’s remarks. BJP leader and Union Minister Jitendra Singh accused Mr. Gandhi of “a deliberate attempt to spread false rhetoric for vested interests, which find militancy convenient to continue the Congress’s dynastic politics”.
Dr. Singh asked Mr. Gandhi to “thank PM Modi for the peace in J&K”. “It’s in this peace that Mr. Gandhi freely moves around and enjoys having kebab at Srinagar’s Residency Road, which was impossible during the Congress’s rule,” Dr. Singh said.
Published - September 04, 2024 04:04 pm IST
