Rahul Gandhi to address two rallies at Gool, Dooru on Sept 4
Gopal Sharma/ Fayaz Bukhari
JAMMU/ SRINAGAR, Aug 31: Former AICC president and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi is visiting J&K to address two election rallies in Banihal and Dooru constituencies on Sept 4 to campaign for the candidates of the NC-Congress alliance.
A party spokesman said that on the request of the party candidates GA Mir (Dooru in Anantnag) and Vikar Rasool Wani (Banihal), Gandhi is visiting to address first election rally at Gool town in Banihal constituency of district Ramban in Jammu region and the second rally in the afternoon at Dooru in Anantnag district of South Kashmir.
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While the public rally at Gool in Banihal constituency will be held at 12 noon, the rally in Dooru will be addressed by Gandhi and Dr Farooq Abdullah at 1.30 pm on the same day, the spokesman added.
“Gandhi will arrive Jammu from New Delhi in a special aircraft on Sept 4 at 11.10 am and from there he will reach Gool in a helicopter chopper. From Gool to Dooru Stadium, Gandhi will fly in the chopper and reach Dooru at around 1.30 pm, spokesman added.
After rally at Dooru, Gandhi will reach Srinagar airport in the same chopper and then move to Delhi in the special plane at 3 pm.
“We are happy that despite his tight schedule, he is coming. We didn’t think he would be able to, but now, on September 4, he will be in Dooru to start the election campaign and guide us in better representing the people of J&K,” AICC secretary and party candidate from Dooru G A Mir said.
He stated that the Nehru family has had a strong bond and affection for Dooru, and on the day of the rally, people will set everything aside to listen to their leader who, Mir said, has been advocating for those facing hardships across the country.
“Rahul has been raising issues of injustice committed by the Modi Government in J&K and elsewhere in the country; in a way, he is the captain of the people of J&K, their voice,” Mir stated.
He noted that if people trust anyone, “it is Rahul Gandhi. He has consistently raised the issues of the poor, the marginalized, and others. His credibility extends not only in J&K but across the country.”
When asked whether NC leaders would be joining the rally, Mir mentioned that top NC leaders are expected to attend. “Both Dr Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah, or at least one of them, will be present at the rally.”
“Thousands of people will come to listen to what Rahul has to say. Without any appeal from me, people will come; they will close their houses and businesses to welcome Rahul,” he added.
It is to be noted here that south Kashmir is set to go for polls on September 18 under Phase-I of Assembly elections in J&K.
He said Congress has lined up over 40 star campaigners, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president, Tariq Hameed Karra today said that the National Conference-Cong alliance was forged under ‘national compulsion’ and for the betterment of the people here.
Karra while speaking to the reporters during the joining of Congress party by District Development Council member from Sangrama and Advocate Irfan Hafiz Lone and former Kokernag MLA Abdul Rahim Rather, said that the party will become stronger in the future.
The JKPCC chief said that this time the alliance was forged under national compulsion and for the betterment of people in Jammu and Kashmir.
Karra said the inclusion of young leaders like Irfan Hafeez Lone and former MLA Abdul Rahim Rather would help extend Congress’ influence to even the most remote villages.
Karra highlighted the importance of unity under Congress’ leadership to resist BJP’s rule. “Congress provides the credibility needed to lead such an effort,” he said.
Karra also mentioned the positive impact of Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, which, he said, attracted widespread support for Congress. However, due to the alliance with NC, there may be limitations on accommodating all new members, he said.
Lone, who is expected to contest the Wagoora-Kreeri Assembly seat in the forthcoming elections, said his decision was motivated by a desire to counter the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and prevent the fragmentation of the people’s mandate.
Lone said he is “committed to fighting peacefully for the genuine rights of the people, including the restoration of Statehood and greater devolution of powers within the framework of federalism”.
Later in the evening, former MLA from Gool-Gulabgarh, Mumtaz Khan also joined Congress party. He is expected to contest from Reasi seat.
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