• Flays J&K governance by ‘Outsiders,’ promises Constitutional rights
• Modi’s ’56-inch Chest’ deflated by INDIA alliance
• Announces super specialty hospital for dists, mobile clinic for tehsils
• Promises healthcare revamp, ₹25 lakh insurance for J&K families
• Assures interest-free loans & monthly allowance for women
• Vows to fill 1 lakh vacant jobs in J&K
Srinagar, Aug 23: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, on Wednesday pledged to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, promising to fight for the constitutional rights of its people. Speaking at an election rally in Srinagar in support of Congress candidate Tariq Hameed Karra, Gandhi criticized the current administration for downgrading Jammu and Kashmir from statehood to a Union Territory (UT) and accused it of being governed by “outsiders.”
“The Lieutenant Governor behaves like a Raja, working against the will of the people and lacking the necessary understanding of governance. A state was downgraded into a UT for the first time in India’s history,” Gandhi said.
Gandhi noted that the Congress had demanded the restoration of statehood before the elections, but the BJP ignored these demands, being “hungry for power.” He declared, “We have to return the rights to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and bring prosperity to their lives. I guarantee that the first pressure we will apply on them is for the restoration of statehood. If they fail, I promise Congress will make it happen. This is your constitutional right.”
The Congress leader further emphasized the injustice of stripping away the democratic rights of the people of J&K, pointing out that while India has seen states being created from others—such as Madhya Pradesh into Chhattisgarh, Bihar into Jharkhand, and Andhra Pradesh into Telangana—it has never seen a state downgraded to a Union Territory.
“This is a historic injustice. The rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir have been taken away, and I want to ensure statehood is restored as quickly as possible,” he affirmed. Gandhi also stated that after the elections, his top priority would be applying pressure on the BJP to return Jammu and Kashmir to its original statehood.
Criticizing the BJP’s economic approach, Gandhi claimed the party only caters to a select few billionaires. “They waived off ₹16,000 crore for 25 individuals but refused to forgive loans for the poor, farmers, laborers, women, and students,” he stated. Gandhi also blamed BJP policies, including demonetization and the flawed GST rollout, for destroying small businesses and leaving the youth, particularly in J&K, without jobs.
He contrasted the BJP’s divisive politics with the Congress’s focus on unity. “Modi once boasted about his ’56-inch chest’ with confidence and pride, but now, thanks to the INDIA alliance and Congress, his psychology has changed. Over the last 10 years, he has spread hatred wherever he goes,” he said, adding, “Wherever BJP set up their ‘Nafrat Ki Dukan,’ we have opened ‘Mohabbat Ki Dukan.’ We will continue this mission.”
Gandhi also promised to restore essential services in Jammu and Kashmir that had been “deprived” under BJP rule. He pledged to establish affordable and accessible healthcare facilities modeled after the Chiranjeevi Yojana in Rajasthan, offering ₹25 lakh health insurance coverage. “There will be super specialty hospitals in every district and mobile clinics in every tehsil,” he said. He assured voters, “The health of you and your family will no longer be a financial or mental burden.”
The Congress leader outlined other initiatives aimed at improving the lives of J&K’s residents, including a ₹3,000 monthly allowance for the head of every household and interest-free loans up to ₹5 lakh for self-help groups. He also vowed to fully implement former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s rehabilitation plan for Kashmiri Pandits and promised to secure constitutional rights for OBCs.
Gandhi concluded by pledging to fill 1 lakh vacant jobs under his “Our job, our right” initiative, aimed at tackling unemployment in the region.
The assembly polls are currently underway in 90 constituencies across Jammu and Kashmir, taking place in three phases. Voting in the second phase, which includes 26 constituencies, is scheduled for Wednesday.
Meanwhile in another rally in Poonch, Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP of engaging in a “politics of hate” in various states, including Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Manipur.
Speaking at a mega election rally in Poonch, Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the BJP-RSS, accusing them of fostering division and violence. “BJP-RSS spreads only hate and violence. Their politics is rooted in division, but hatred cannot be eradicated with more hate—only love can overcome it,” he said, emphasizing the need for unity and peace.
Gandhi also responded to BJP’s claims that the National Conference (NC) had neglected the development of Gujjars and Pahadis in Jammu and Kashmir, accusing the BJP of deploying its “divide and rule” tactic to create rifts within communities. “BJP is trying to divide communities that have long lived as brothers. I guarantee that their efforts to divide will fail,” he asserted.
He called upon Congress workers to fully support National Conference candidates in the upcoming Assembly elections. “I appeal to all Congress candidates to stand behind NC candidates,” he urged, marking a significant show of unity between the two opposition parties.
Rahul Gandhi also criticized the current governance in Jammu and Kashmir, stating that the BJP had no real control over the administration. “The government here is run from Delhi. The orders are followed from there,” he said. Gandhi reiterated his promise to fight for the restoration of statehood in Jammu and Kashmir, asserting that Congress would make it a priority post-elections.
