Re-election rumours a ‘psychological game’: Karra

Kupwara, Jun 30: Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Tariq Hamid Karra on Monday dismissed the ongoing political chatter around a possible re-election as a “psychological game” aimed at pressuring elected representatives, especially Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs), into silence over the demand for restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.Speaking at a party outreach event in Kupwara, Karra said, “This talk of re-election is being used as a psychological tactic to suppress the voice of those seeking full statehood. It’s an attempt to intimidate MLAs into abandoning the cause. But for us, it remains a consistent and rightful demand.”He also addressed the formation of a new political alliance in the Union Territory, saying the Congress remains aligned with the national-level INDIA bloc, of which both the National Conference (NC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are constituents. “As far as the Congress is concerned, we are part of a national alliance. We don’t know the purpose of the new alliance or who is driving it,” he said.Karra said that parties in the alliance contested the recent Lok Sabha elections on separate manifestos, with Congress, NC and PDP each presenting distinct promises to the electorate. “Had we been in the position to implement them, we would have fulfilled our commitments. But the current system of dual control undermines that possibility,” he said.Reflecting on the events of August 5, 2019, when Article 370 and Article 35A were abrogated, the J&K Congress chief accused the Centre of repeatedly delaying the restoration of statehood. “First, they said delimitation, then elections. It has been eight months since the polls, still no clarity. The Centre has made a habit of finding one excuse after another,” he said.