Says downgrading state to UT strips away rights, stifles democracy
“I have a blood relationship with J&K—my doors are open to serve you”
BJP has only taken advantage of KPS ; Congwill support them &move forward together
Dooru (Anantnag), Sept 04:Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday kick-started his party’s election campaign in Jammu and Kashmir, assuring people that his party along with the help of INDIA bloc partners will ensure the restoration of statehood to the Union territory. The leader of the Opposition in the LokSabha expressed confidence that his party’s alliance government is going to be formed next month.
Congress is in alliance with the National Conference for the assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir that will take place in three phases on September 18, 25 and October 8. This is the first time that elections are being held after the erstwhile state was bifurcated into two Union Territories and its special status revoked in August 2019.
“We wished for restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir before the holding of assembly elections but the BJP was not willing and wanted the polls to be held first.
Leader of Opposition in the LokSabha, Rahul Gandhi, condemned the BJP’s decision to downgrade Jammu and Kashmir from a state to a Union Territory, says it marked as the first time in India’s history that such a reversal has occurred.
Rahul said that while Union Territories have often been upgraded to states to deepen democracy and enhance citizens’ rights, the reduction of a state to a Union Territory does the opposite—stripping away rights and stifling democracy.
He was addressing a joint rally in DooruAnantnag, his first public address as a star campaigner in support of Alliance candidate Ghulam Ahmad Mir of the Congress and National Conference.
“After Independence, states were formed in India from Union Territories. For example, Arunachal Pradesh. Jharkhand became a new state—earlier, it was part of Bihar. Chhattisgarh became a state from Madhya Pradesh, and Uttarakhand was formed from Uttar Pradesh. Telangana became a state from Andhra Pradesh. But for the first time in the history of India, after Independence, a state was made into a Union Territory,” Rahul said.
He said that there is the stark difference between a state and a Union Territory: “In a state, there is an assembly, a voice of the people. They have rights, and the people of the state run their own affairs—whether it is tourism, business, or mining. The people of the state make their own laws in their assembly.”
He assured the people that restoring statehood is a priority for the Congress and the INDIA Bloc. “I have come here to tell you that whatever BJP or RSS says, we are going to give back the statehood of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. We wanted the matter to be resolved before the elections and Jammu and Kashmir should get statehood before the elections. But BJP did not want this. They said, first do the elections.”
“I can guarantee you that either they (the ruling government) will give statehood or the next government, the government of INDIA Bloc, will give you statehood,” Rahul said, adding that Congress will not stop until this goal is achieved. “We will put pressure on them in Parliament.”
Rahul said that Jammu and Kashmir has made up its mind, and while he is here to campaign, the truth is that the INDIA Alliance is on course to win this election. “It is visible,” he said, “because the INDIA alliance is fighting for justice.”
“As Dr Farooq Abdullah said, many are attempting to sow division and confusion. But remember, on one side, there is the BJP and RSS. On the other side, there is the INDIA alliance, Congress Party, and National Conference. It’s simple—the fight is between these two. We must remain united and defeat them,” he urged supporters.
Rahul expressed his deep personal connection with the people of J&K, saying, “I have a blood relationship with the people of J&K. This is not a political relationship. Whether it is Rajivji, Indiraji, JawaharLalNehruji. And whatever you want from me, my doors are open for you. I want to serve you in Parliament. Your issues, your pain, your sorrow—all of that I want to raise for you in Parliament.”
He also expressed solidarity with the Kashmiri Pandits, accusing the BJP of exploiting them. “The BJP has only taken advantage of them. They have used them. They have not helped them. Congress stands with them and wants to connect with Kashmiri Pandits. When the government comes, we will take you together and move forward. We want that all of us together move forward with brotherhood. The shop of love should open in J&K,” he added.
Taking a dig, he said, “Before the elections, NarendraModi used to boast with a 56-inch chest. But that 56-inch chest has disappeared. The INDIA Alliance has completely shattered the Prime Minister’s confidence. You can see it from a distance. I sit directly in front of him in Parliament and witness it firsthand.”
He said that the confidence of PM is entirely gone. The NarendraModi of the 56-inch chest is no more—his confidence is completely destroyed.
