Says restoration of statehood to J&K is our priority
Condemns BJP’s remote control governance
Kharge critiques downgrade of J&K to UT, calls for restoration of local democratic processes
Srinagar/Jammu, Aug 22: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi reiterated his commitment to restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, stating that it is a top priority for both him and his party.
Speaking at a party event in Srinagar, Gandhi underlined his deep connection with the region, describing it as a “blood relationship” that has spanned generations.
In a swipe at the Modi government, the Leader of the Opposition said, “We expected this (restoration of statehood, a demand of many opposition parties and activists) to be done prior to the election but it is okay. Elections have been declared and it is a step forward.”
The elections, the first since 2014, are scheduled for September 18, 25, and October 1.
Gandhi called on the people of Jammu and Kashmir to embrace love in the face of hatred, invoking his slogan from the Bharat Jodo Yatra: “Nafrat ke bazaar mein, mohabbat ki dukaan khol.” He emphasized the importance of representation for the people of J&K, expressing his desire to alleviate their pain, which he described as a personal mission rather than a political statement.
“I love the people of J&K. I have a very old and a blood relationship with them,” he said at a party event in Srinagar attended by Congress boss Mallikarjun Kharge.
“And it is our priority, and of the INDIA bloc, to restore statehood as soon as possible. We expected this would be done prior to the election but it is okay. Elections have been declared and we hope statehood will also be restored, and the democratic rights of J&K people will also be restored,” Gandhi told reporters after meeting with Congress leaders in Srinagar.
“Jammu has a culture, a history, it’s a land of Maa Vaishno Devi, your lifestyle and thinking style are different,” he said, adding, “every state has a different style, we want all these cultures, history and languages to be protected and want your voice in your government”.
“BJP has a different thinking, they want to run the entire country from Nagpur, through remote control,” Rahul said while while addressing Congress workers in Jammu today evening.
“We want statehood for you, that is in your heart and we want you to run your state the way you want to, this is the message we came to convey,” he added.
He further asserted that the assembly elections are a battle of ideologies between Congress and RSS. He said the people of J&K will give a befitting reply to the BJP in the upcoming Assembly elections.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, also present at the event, echoed Gandhi’s sentiments. “Rahul Gandhi’s relationship with J&K goes beyond politics; it is a bond of blood,” said Kharge, urging voters to support Congress in the upcoming elections. He highlighted the party’s commitment to addressing issues like unemployment and protecting the region’s natural resources.
He said after India’s independence, many UTs were turned into States.” But there is only one instance in which a state was downgraded and this is the first time. It never happened before,” he said.
Gandhi said for them representation of the people of J&K is important. “I will tell you why… I protect democracy all over the country but, for me, the aim is to remove the pain in the hearts of people of J&K. This is not a political statement I am making,” he said.
This is not the first time Gandhi claimed blood ties with J&K.
In October 2012, at a ceremony to lay the foundation stone for a road tunnel connecting Kargil to Kashmir, he had said, “I am a Kashmiri. I want to have a lifelong relationship with the people of J&K.”
Congress President Kharge, who is the LoP in the Rajya Sabha, also appealed to voters.
He was flanked by senior leader K C Venugopal,
Gandhi said that the party will “help” the people of J&K, whatever way they can.
“The Congress party is always there. We understand that you are going through a very difficult period, a tough period. We want to remove violence,” he said.
In his address, Kharge said, “This was the first meeting after the polls were announced. We are here to seek the views of local leaders and workers for the elections and an alliance. Rahul ji is interested in taking everyone along in this election.”
Speaking on the announcement of elections in J&K, Kharge said, “They downgraded the state of J&K into a UT and then people were not given any rights. There is no legislative council, no panchayat or municipality. The people have been kept away from democracy.”
He added that the elections have finally been announced but only on the directions of the Supreme Court in its December 2023 judgement.
The Congress president said that the party will work towards addressing unemployment, investment and protections for “jal, jungle, zameen” of the people of J&K.
The Congress leaders also met with Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah at their residence to discuss details of an alliance with the National Conference.
The J&K Assembly election will be held in three phases – September 18, September 25, and October 1. Counting of votes will take place on October 4. The Supreme Court last year had ordered the Election Commission to hold the election by September 30, 2024.
