Gopal Sharma/Fayaz Bukhari
POONCH/SRINAGAR, Sept 23: While claiming to become voice of the people of Jammu and Kashmir in the Parliament, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and former AICC president, Rahul Gandhi today strongly criticized the BJP for downgrading Jammu and Kashmir from a full-fledged State into two Union Territories, calling it an unprecedented move in the Indian history.
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Addressing a large rally at Surankote in Poonch district in support of Cong-NC alliance candidate Shahnawaz Choudhary and later in Central Shalteng area of Srinagar for party candidate and JKPCC chief, Tariq Hameed Karra today, Rahul vowed that the Congress, along with the INDI Alliance would exert pressure on the Central Government to restore J&K’s Statehood after the completion of Assembly elections.
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Gandhi said Jammu and Kashmir is the first state in India’s history to be bifurcated into two Union Territories-Ladakh and J&K. Unlike other regions that saw the creation of new States from the biggest States, J&K was downgraded, and with it, the democratic rights of its people were stripped away.
“This is the first time that a state has been reduced to a Union Territory. Your right to self-governance was snatched from you,” he declared, emphasizing that the restoration of statehood remains a top priority for the Congress party.
Rahul reaffirmed his commitment to the people of J&K, promising to be their voice in the Union Parliament.
“Whenever you need me, just call, and I will be here. I will ensure your concerns are heard in Parliament,” he told the gathering, underlining his long-standing connection with the region.
Leader of the Opposition accused the BJP-led Central Government of ruling J&K from Delhi, with decisions being made by non-locals.
He also alleged that the state’s downgrade to a Union Territory was primarily aimed at benefiting a handful of powerful industrialists, claiming that the government was prioritizing the interests of a select few over the common people.
Gandhi said that J&K has not only been reduced to a UT from being a State but it has been ruled by the “outsiders directly.” “The Lieutenant Governor is Raja who is working against the wishes of people here. He doesn’t know how to work,” he said.
He criticized the BJP government for taking away local decision-making powers, stating that local MLAs used to make key decisions about colleges and universities, but now “outsiders” were running the affairs of the region under a Lieutenant Governor.
“We want the people of Jammu and Kashmir to choose their own government and make their own decisions,” he added.
“J&K’s fate is now decided by outsiders,” he said, pointing to the loss of autonomy to rule.
He further criticized the BJP and RSS for spreading divisiveness through religion, caste, and regional lines. To counter this, Gandhi said the Congress was promoting unity and harmony, opening “Mohabbat Ki Dukkan in Nafrat Kay Bazaar Main”
Referring to the economic challenges facing the country, Gandhi lambasted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s policies, particularly demonetization and the introduction of a flawed GST, which, he said, had crippled small and medium businesses.
He accused the Modi government of waiving loans worth Rs 16 lakh crore for a few selected businessmen while ignoring the needs of farmers, labourers and unemployed educated youth.
Gandhi expressed disappointment over the closure of major industries, including the HMT watch factory in J&K, and said this was indicative of the government’s failure to provide employment opportunities. He noted that despite high educational qualifications, the youth of J&K were struggling to find jobs, a situation he attributed directly to the Modi Government’s economic mismanagement. “This is Modi’s gift-young people with degrees but no jobs,” Gandhi asserted.
Taking a dig at Modi’s popular “Mann Ki Baat” radio show, Gandhi remarked that while the Prime Minister enjoys speaking at length, he fails to address the real issues facing the country. “Modi only talks about his ‘Mann Ki Baat,’ but what people need is ‘Kaam Ki Baat’-jobs for the youth and the restoration of J&K’s statehood,” Gandhi added.
With Assembly elections underway in J&K, Rahul Gandhi pledged that if the BJP does not restore Statehood after the polls, the Congress and the INDI alliance would ensure it happens. He reassured the people of J&K that their demand for statehood would not be ignored and promised continued efforts to safeguard their democratic rights.
Earlier, addressing rally, NC president Dr Farooq Abdullah said that NC-Congress have come together to change the destiny of Jammu and Kashmir and end the 10-year-old misrule of the BJP. “We have to fight the hatred spread by them by standing united and defeating their designs,” Abdullah said.
He said the NC-Congress alliance is moving smoothly and “we are sure of getting a majority to form the next Government in J&K.
Abdullah said the BJP is talking a lot about Article 370 but the reality is that they are “dishonouring” Maharaja Hari Singh, the last Dogra ruler who introduced land laws in Jammu and Kashmir in 1927, which later became part of Article 370 after Independence.
“Those who celebrated the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 by distributing sweets are ruing the decision today because they are losing their lands and their children are not getting jobs. The local officers are missing in the Civil Secretariat as people from outside were given top posts,” Abdullah claimed.
Referring to BJP’s clear message that Article 370 has become history and nobody is going to restore it, Abdullah said they will knock the door of the Supreme Court till the constitutional provision is restored in the Union Territory.
The former Chief Minister said the “frequent” terror attacks, especially in the peaceful Jammu region, contradicts the BJP-led Government’s claim terrorism “finished” with the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.
Farooq said the BJP blamed them and the Article 370 for terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir but the terror incidents, especially in the Jammu region, contradict their claims. “I want to ask them that five years have passed since the abrogation of Article 370 but terror incidents are still killing people, ” he said.
AICC incharge Jammu and Kashmir Bharatsinh Solanki, AICC co-incharge Manoj Yadav, Congress candidate from Surankote Assembly segment Shahnawaz Choudhary, JKPCC senior vice president and chief spokesperson of the party, Ravinder Sharma, Congress candidate for Thannamandi Assembly segment Shabir Khan, Congress candidate for Rajouri seat, Iftikhar Ahmed also spoke during Surankote rally.
AICC general Secretary and former J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president, Ghulam Ahmed Mir, while addressing rally at Zainakote in Central Shalteng said that the NC-Congress alliance should win 65 seats across J&K. Mir emphasized the significance of the on-going phase-wise Assembly election in J&K.
“The NC-Congress alliance should secure 60-65 seats, enabling us to demand the restoration of Statehood and the rights to land and jobs,” he said.
“This is not just any other election; the bigger question is whether we want to let the BJP flourish in J&K or remove them. This is the decision you must make on polling day,” he added.
Mir stated that the coalition Government’s first priority would be passing a resolution to restore the rights of the people of J&K.
“When the first Assembly is convened, the initial task will be to pass a resolution demanding the return of Statehood and the restoration of rights over land and jobs. Your vote will avenge the injustices the people have suffered,” he said.
JKPCC president, Tariq Hameed Karra, former JKPCC president Peerzada Mohd Syeed and senior vice president, Ghulam Nabi Monga also spoke on the occasion.
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