Restoring J&K Statehood Our Priority: Rahul Gandhi

Restoring Statehood To J&K Is Cong, INDIA Bloc's Priority: Rahul Gandhi — Congress leader Rahul Gandhi speaks during a press conference in Srinagar on Thursday. KO photo by Abid Bhat

By Dabirah Hassan

Srinagar- Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday claimed “blood” ties with the people of Jammu and Kashmir and declared restoration of statehood a “priority” for both him and his party. J&K was bifurcated into two union territories in August 2019, after the centre scrapped Article 370.

“The principal stance of Congress party and the INDIA Bloc is to restore statehood to J&K as soon as possible and we had expected that this would be done prior to elections, but okay, elections have been declared and it’s a step forward, and we are hoping that statehood will be restored as soon as possible and the democratic rights of the people of J&K will be restored,” Rahul said at a press conference after chairing a meeting of party workers in Srinagar.

He assured the people that the Congress is always there to help them in whatever it can.

Referring to his Bharat Jodo Yatra which had culminated here, Gandhi said we want to open “Mohabbat ki dukan nafrat ke bazar mein” (open shop of love in market of hate) with respect and brotherhood.

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He said it is the first time since Independence that a state has been downgraded to a Union Territory (UT).

“This has never happened before. UTs have become states, but it is the first time that a state has become a UT. We are very clear in our national manifesto as well that it is a priority for us that the people of J&K and Ladakh get their democratic rights back,” he added.

“For us (the Congress) representing the people of J&K is important. I will tell you why… I protect democracy all over the country but, for me, the aim is to remove the pain in the hearts of the people of J&K,” he continued, stressing, “This is not a political statement I am making.”

Referring to his late night visit to have a dinner and relish ice-cream here, he said he felt irritated when someone asked him whether he liked the people of J&K.

“We went to the restaurant to have dinner. They brought Wazwan. Kharge ji has been advised by his doctors not to eat non-vegetarian food, so he could not relish Wazwan. Then I went out to have some ice-cream.

“I met some people there who asked me whether I like the people of J&K. This irritated me and I told them that no I do not like the people of J&K, I love them,” he said.

Gandhi said it is his mission to “erase the pain and fear in the hearts of the people of J&K”.

“I, Kharge ji and the Congress party want to end the pain that you are going through,” he added.

The Congress leader said his party and the opposition’s INDIA Bloc “crushed” the self-confidence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Lok Sabha polls.

“The ideology of the Congress party and the INDIA Bloc defeated him. We did not resort to violence or abusive language, but succeeded in conveying a message to PM Modi that he is not what he thinks he is. We have crushed his self-confidence and psychology,” he said. PM Modi does not thump his chest anymore, he added.

He also told his party workers that even if the Congress entered into an alliance in J-K, the interests of party workers and leaders will not be compromised.

“Alliance will take place. But there won’t be an alliance at the cost of Congress workers’ and leaders’ interest. You should remain assured that there will be no compromise on the interests and respect of party workers and leaders,” he said.

Gandhi along with party president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday spoke with Congress leaders and workers here to get feedback about the grassroots-level preparations for the assembly polls.

Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir will be held in three phases — September 18, September 25 and October 1. The counting of votes will be held on October 4.

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