Says J&K a ‘Pawn’ in BJP’s political chess
‘Rail bridge taller than Eiffel tower can’t compensate what PM snatched from J&K ‘
Promises to restore Statehood, Darbar Move
Terrorism not over in J&K
Feels emotional connect to J&K, tribute to Indira Gandhi
Jammu, Sept 28:Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, in her first election rally in Jammu’s Bishnah, launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister NarendraModi and the BJP-led government, claiming that the people of Jammu and Kashmir continue to feel “suffocated” and that terrorism has not ended. Addressing a large crowd that had gathered since the morning, she asserted that the world’s largest rail bridge over the Chenab River cannot compensate for what the government has “snatched” from the people of J&K.
Priyanka, expressing regret for her late arrival due to weather disruptions, stated, “I was so desperate to meet you, and I am sorry for reaching late. But I thank God I’m here with you.”
She criticized PM Modi’s claims of development, stating that while the Chenab rail bridge might surpass the Eiffel Tower in size, “no bridge can compensate for the statehood, land rights, and resources taken away from the people of Jammu and Kashmir.” She further added, “For the last ten years, the people here have felt suffocated. A 150-year-old practice like the Darbar Move was taken away, and the Lieutenant Governor is functioning without any accountability.”
Priyanka Gandhi emphasized that the Congress party would restore the age-old practice of the Darbar Move and work diligently to regain statehood for Jammu and Kashmir. She also announced that, if elected to power, the Congress would halt the installation of smart meters and waive the pending electricity bills of the public.
She further assured that the Congress would resume the rehabilitation process for Kashmiri Pandits, which had been initiated during the tenure of former Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan Singh.
Targeting the government’s claims on ending terrorism, Priyanka stated that terrorism is still a significant issue in J&K. “There have been 683 incidents in the past years, leading to the deaths of 260 security personnel and 170 civilians,” she said, questioning the government’s narrative of a ‘New Jammu and Kashmir.’
Priyanka Gandhi also accused the current administration of framing policies that benefit outsiders at the expense of local residents. She claimed that key resources like mineral blocks have been handed over to non-residents, pushing J&K’s own people “to the wall” when it comes to housing and other developments.
“It’s easy to speak from the stage, but the people standing before me have borne the real impact of these policies,” she remarked.
Priyanka shared an emotional anecdote from her childhood, recounting a trip to Jammu and Kashmir with her brother Rahul and their grandmother, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, just days before Indira Gandhi’s assassination. She recalled visiting the KheerBhawani temple with her grandmother, and said that every time she returns to Srinagar, she visits the temple to honor her memory.
“Four or five days before her assassination, my grandmother said, ‘I feel like going to Kashmir, I want to see the Chinar trees in autumn.’ We were thrilled as children, but little did we know it would be our last trip together,” Priyanka said.
Ramping up her attack on the BJP, Priyanka accused the party of using Jammu and Kashmir as a pawn in its political game. “Nature has blessed J&K with beauty and resources, and when someone has everything, those with bad intentions will try to take it away. BJP leaders have made J&K a tool in their political chessboard. Policies here are designed not for your upliftment but for their political gains,” she claimed.
The Congress leader concluded her address with a call to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to reject the BJP and its policies in the upcoming elections, promising that Congress would restore the dignity and rights of the people.
Elections in Jammu and Kashmir are being held in three phases, with the final phase set for October 1. Counting will take place on October 8.
