Srinagar, Dec 26: The Congress high command on Tuesday asked its Jammu and Kashmir leaders to gear up for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, even as it conveyed to them that the party has held no talks with INDIA alliance partners over seat-sharing for general elections in the Union Territory.
At a meeting held in New Delhi, the Congress high command asked J&K leaders to work hard and ensure the win for the party in the Lok Sabha polls expected to be held in April-May 2024.
“The party leadership told us to work hard and visit constituencies to ensure the win of the party in the upcoming polls, “a senior party leader, who was part of the meeting told KNO.
The meeting was chaired by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and attended by senior party leader Rahul Gandhi, party in-charge for J&K, Bharat Singh Solanki and others. The focus of the discussion was the party’s preparations for five Lok Sabha seats in J&K.
He said Kharge told them there has been no discussion yet with INDIA alliance partners on seat-sharing in J&K.
National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party are part of the INDIA alliance. Both the regional parties are also part of Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), a conglomerate of a few J&K parties seeking restoration of J&K’s special status.
Meanwhile, JKPCC president Vikar Rasool Wani said the meeting which lasted for nearly 3-4 hours discussed several issues regarding the Lok Sabha polls.
In a detailed post on the social media platform, Kharge said the Modi government has left no stone unturned in “betraying” the people of Jammu & Kashmir. He also said that Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh are inalienable and indistinguishable parts of India, “but PM Modi’s clean chit to China post Galwan has endangered the national security and strategic interests”.
The Congress chief said they are deeply concerned about the rise in terror attacks in Pir Panjal and the targeted killings of Kashmiri Pandits in the last few years. He also expressed hope to see full statehood restored to Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh being made a state at the earliest.
“People of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh want change and want their voices to be heard to, and they conveyed the same to us, by the kind of strong support they gave to Shri @RahulGandhi during the Bharat Jodo Yatra,” he said.
Apart from Viqar, the meeting was attended by working president Raman Bhalla, senior Congress leader Ghulam Ahmad Mir, former deputy CM Tara Chand, former MLC Ghulam Nabi Monga, former minister Peerzada Muhammad Sayeed and several other leaders. (KNO)
