Congress Leader Pawan Khera Promises to Restore Statehood to Jammu and Kashmir
Congress leader Pawan Khera announced on Monday that the Congress-National Conference (NC) alliance is committed to restoring the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir. He stated, “Jammu and Kashmir was a state whose rights were taken away, its statehood was taken away, it was made a Union Territory and it must get back this right. We will get back this right of Jammu and Kashmir.”
Khera emphasized that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are determined to defeat the BJP. He highlighted the Congress party’s track record of fulfilling promises in states like Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, and Karnataka. “We have put our entire agenda in front of the public in our manifesto…The people of Jammu and Kashmir have made up their minds. They have decided that if the BJP has to be defeated, then only INDIA Alliance parties should be voted for,” he said.
Khera also mentioned that if the Congress-NC alliance comes to power, they will operate under a common minimum program, ensuring a unified approach to governance.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s Response
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, speaking at an election rally in Kishtwar, stated that the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly election is a contest between the BJP and the Congress-NC alliance. Shah highlighted the BJP’s achievements, including the removal of Article 370, and emphasized that Jammu and Kashmir will always be an integral part of India.
Shah said, “The upcoming elections are between two forces. On one hand, you have the BJP which walks on the ideals of Pandit Prem Nath Dogra and Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee. It’s clear to us that J&K was and will always be an integral part of India.”
Election Schedule
The assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be held in three phases on September 18, September 25, and November 1. Votes will be counted on October 8.
Doubts Revealed
Congress -: Congress is one of the major political parties in India. It has been around for a long time and has had many leaders who have become Prime Ministers of India.
Pawan Khera -: Pawan Khera is a leader in the Congress party. He speaks on behalf of the party and shares their plans and promises with the public.
Statehood -: Statehood means being recognized as a state with its own government and more control over its own affairs. Jammu and Kashmir used to be a state but is now a Union Territory, which has less autonomy.
Jammu and Kashmir -: Jammu and Kashmir is a region in northern India. It used to be a state but was changed to a Union Territory in 2019.
National Conference -: National Conference is another political party in Jammu and Kashmir. They are working with Congress to bring back statehood to the region.
BJP -: BJP stands for Bharatiya Janata Party. It is another major political party in India and is currently in power at the national level.
Amit Shah -: Amit Shah is the Union Home Minister of India. He is a senior leader in the BJP and plays a key role in the government’s decisions.
Article 370 -: Article 370 was a special law that gave Jammu and Kashmir more autonomy than other states. It was removed by the BJP government in 2019.
Assembly elections -: Assembly elections are when people vote to choose their representatives in the state or Union Territory government. These elections decide who will make important decisions for the region.
Three phases -: Three phases mean that the voting will happen on three different days instead of all at once. This helps manage the process better and ensures everyone gets a chance to vote.