Rahul Gandhi Advocates for Jammu and Kashmir’s Statehood Restoration

Ramban (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], September 4: Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has called for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood. Speaking at an election rally in Ramban, he emphasized that the removal of the region’s autonomous status has stripped its people of their identity, rights, and resources.

Rahul Gandhi stated, “For the first time in the history of India, statehood has been snatched away. Union Territory was first made a state… A state has been abolished and the rights of the people have been snatched away. First of all, the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir has to be returned because not only your state has been snatched away, your rights, your wealth, everything is being snatched away from you.”

He criticized the BJP’s stance on the issue, saying, “We wanted that you should first get statehood and then elections should be held. But the BJP does not want this, they say that first elections will be held and then the issue of statehood will be discussed. We are saying that whatever happens, we will get statehood for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Whether the BJP wants it or not, we will exert so much pressure that the people of Jammu and Kashmir will have to be given statehood.”

Drawing a parallel between the region’s past monarchical rule and its present governance, Gandhi said, “In 1947, we removed the kings, formed a democratic government and gave a Constitution to the country. But… Today, there is a ‘king’ named LG sitting in Jammu and Kashmir, who is snatching your money and giving it to outsiders. Therefore, our first step will be to return ‘statehood’ to Jammu and Kashmir.”

He also highlighted his ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ and the contrasting visions of his party and the BJP. “This fight is between two ideologies. On one side- hatred, violence, and fear. On the other hand- love and respect. We walked from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, during which we gave the slogan – ‘We have to open a shop of love in the market of hatred.’ BJP’s job is to spread hatred, our job is to spread love. They break, we unite,” he said.

Gandhi assured that the Congress party would fill all government vacancies and extend the age limit to 40 years for job applicants. “The alliance government of Congress party is going to come to power here, this is going to happen. Our first task will be to fill all the government vacancies and we will extend the age to 40 years, we will regularize the daily wage workers, make them permanent and we will increase their income. Our goal will be to run the government of Jammu and Kashmir by taking everyone together, everyone should be respected, we should take everyone together,” he said.

He also expressed his admiration for the region, saying, “This is such a beautiful place, I will have to come here after the elections. You have made a 45-minute program for me here, you have cheated me. At least a 2-3 day program should be made here, I don’t get to see such a place, such lovely people, at least bring me here for 2-3 days and show me around.”

Jammu and Kashmir has 90 assembly constituencies, with 7 seats reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and 9 for Scheduled Tribes (STs). The upcoming elections will be the first in Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370. Polling will be conducted in three phases on September 18, September 25, and October 1. The counting of votes will take place on October 8.