JAMMU, SEPT 25: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi vowed that the INDIA bloc will use its full force in Parliament and on the streets to ensure the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood if the BJP-led government fails to do so after the upcoming assembly elections.
Addressing a public meeting in Jammu, Gandhi called the downgrading of J&K to a Union Territory in 2019 a historic injustice, marking the first time a full-fledged state was reduced to a Union Territory since India’s independence. He criticized the presence of the Lieutenant Governor, arguing that it prioritizes outsiders over local residents and marginalizes local interests.
“This has never happened in India’s history,” Gandhi stated, promising that the INDIA alliance will fight in the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and on the streets for J&K’s statehood.
He further emphasized that statehood is crucial for the future of J&K’s youth and regional progress. In addition, he criticized the central government’s economic policies, alleging they favor business magnates like Adani and Ambani, and reiterated Congress’s commitment to fulfill promises to Kashmiri Pandits and refugees from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). Gandhi also assured the removal of smart electricity meters and the inclusion of Punjabi as an official language in J&K.
Former minister Raman Bhalla and other senior Congress leaders, including AICC incharge J&K Bharat Sinh Solanki, Deputy CM of Himachal Pradesh Mukesh Agnihotri, and others, also addressed the gathering.
