Srinagar, Jan 29: Congress leader and Member of Parliament Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said that he had come to Kashmir with an open heart and open arms to help people. “After meeting hundreds of people during Yatra, I found nobody was happy in Jammu, Ladakh, and Kashmir,” he said.
” I was humbled by the reception we got in Jammu and Kashmir,” Rahul said .
“I met a lot of people here and nobody is happy in Jammu, Ladakh, and Kashmir. I am not happy with what I see in J&K, in fact, I get saddened when I walk through the twin regions. I am not happy I am saddened with what I see on the ground,” he said.
Gandhi said when entering J&K, a strange idea came to his mind about his family that descended from J&K and went to Allahabad. “It was the same feeling that I was returning home,” he said.
About security, Gandhi said the security situation is not conducive in Jammu and Kashmir. He stated that targeted killings and bomb blasts have become a regular occurrence in the region.
“If the situation is so good why don’t the BJP people walk from Jammu to Lal Chowk?”. “Why doesn’t Mr Amit Shah walk from Jammu to Lal Chowk if the situation is so secure?” he questioned.
Regarding restoration of Article 370, Gandhi said Congress had already cleared its position in the party’s working committee document. It is clear and there will be no change in it.
“We received a great response in the country. We saw the resilience and strength of the people of India during this journey. We also got to hear about the issues being faced by farmers, and unemployed youth in the country,” he said.
“Though Opposition parties may have their differences, they will stand united against the RSS-BJP. Bharat Jodo Yatra was from South to North but had the national effect”,” Gandhi said.
Gandhi said Bharat Jodo Yatra was not only the Congress party’s Yatra, instead of party leaders, who walked most in it.
“The Yatra gave an alternative vision to the people amidst existing BJP & RSS vision that is filled with hatred and violence. Now, the people have two days with them, one is aimed to suppress people and another is full of love and affection,” he said.
Gandhi added that BJY received a great response in the country. We saw the resilience and strength of the people of India during this journey, he said.
“The Yatra has culminated in Srinagar and the main function will be held on Monday. I got a lot to experience through this yatra, I met lakhs of people, talked to them, I have no words to describe my journey as I got a good response from the people all across the country including J&K. It was the best experience of my life,” Rahul Gandhi added.
He reiterated that restoration of democratic process and statehood is imperative and the fundamental right of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Gandhi was flanked by General Secretary Incharge Communication, Jairam Ramesh, Incharge J&K Rajni Patil, JKPCC president, Vikar Rasool Wani, former PCC president Ghulam Ahmad Mir, former MP Tariq Hameed Karra, PCC working president Raman Bhalla.
