Srinagar, Sep 04: The Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha and former All India Congress Committee (AICC) president, Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday visited Jammu and Kashmir for the second time in less than a month and kick-started the poll campaigning for assembly elections in the Union Territory.
The LOP addressed two gathering in Jammu and Kashmir—Sangaldan in Ramban and Dooru in Anantnag, which witnessed a significant participation of workers from both National Conference (NC) and Congress, who have entered into a pre-poll alliance in Jammu and Kashmir for the upcoming three-phased elections, slated to be held from September 18.
Rahul first arrived at Sangaldan in Ramban via chopper from Jammu, where he addressed the workers and said that the Statehood would be restored completely if NC-Congress is voted to power in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Our first step will be restoring the Statehood to J&K. We wanted you to get statehood before elections and that elections take place after J&K becomes a state. BJP does not want this. They wanted elections to take place first and then talk about statehood. Whether the BJP wants it or not, the INDIA alliance will put pressure on them and the people of J&K will get statehood…”
Criticizing Central government for snatching the status of Statehood from Jammu and Kashmir, Rahul said that it is for the first time since the Independence of India that any State was downgraded to Union Territory.
As soon as Rahul concluded his programme in Ramban, he left for Dooru via chopper and addressed the gathering. NC President Dr Farooq Abdullah shared the dice with him at Dooru and pitched for a joint fight to defeat the rivals in the upcoming polls.
Rahul while addressing a gathering in Dooru said that restoring Statehood is not only the responsibility of Congress or National Conference or INDI Alliance, but of every citizen of India.
“One thing is sure that Jammu and Kashmir will get back its statehood, I guarantee that. Either the BJP restores it (after polls) or when INDIA bloc forms the next government (at the Centre), it will be the first decision to be taken,” he said.
Furthermore, Rahul claimed that the Lieutenant Governor appointed by the Government of India in Jammu and Kashmir is acting like a “21st century king” and all benefits are being given to people from outside the UT.
Rahul Takes a Stand: Statehood for J&K Will Be Restored
