Union Minister G Kishan Reddy Criticizes Rahul Gandhi’s Visit to Jammu and Kashmir
Union Minister G Kishan Reddy criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Jammu and Kashmir, attributing Gandhi’s ability to dine at Lal Chowk in Srinagar to the achievements of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government over the past decade. Reddy asked Rahul Gandhi to clarify Congress’ stand on Article 370 and the National Conference’s resolution.
BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh highlighted that Lal Chowk, once a stronghold of stone-pelters, has transformed into a tourist destination. Chugh said, “This is an expired alliance. Rahul Gandhi came and I saw him eating ice cream. He should thank Narendra Modi for making Srinagar a smart city and a peaceful city. Lal Chowk which was once a stronghold of stone-pelters has now become a tourist hub. This is a changed Jammu and Kashmir.”
Rahul Gandhi, along with Congress Rajya Sabha MP Mallikarjun Kharge, met with party workers in Jammu and Kashmir. Addressing Congress workers in Srinagar, Rahul Gandhi said, “You are not workers; you are family. As soon as we got to know that elections are going to be held, we first decided to come here to Jammu and Kashmir because we wanted to give a message to the people of every state that for us the representation of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and their statehood is the most important thing.”
Polling in Jammu and Kashmir will occur in three phases on September 18, 25, and October 1, with vote counting scheduled for October 4. These will be the first elections held in the region since the abrogation of Article 370. There are 90 assembly constituencies, including 74 general, nine reserved for Scheduled Tribes (ST), and seven for Scheduled Castes (SC). The total electorate is 87.09 lakh, including 44.46 lakh male, 42.62 lakh female, 169 transgender, 82,590 persons with disabilities, 73,943 very senior citizens, 2,660 centenarians, 76,092 service electors, and 3.71 lakh first-time voters.
Jammu and Kashmir will witness elections after a gap of ten years, as the last assembly election was held in 2014. The PDP-BJP coalition government fell in June 2018 when the latter withdrew support to the then-Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti. In December of last year, the Supreme Court directed the Centre to conclude the election process by September 30, 2024.
Doubts Revealed
Union Minister -: A Union Minister is a person who is in charge of a specific department in the central government of India. They help make important decisions for the country.
G Kishan Reddy -: G Kishan Reddy is a politician in India who works as a Union Minister. He is part of the government and helps make decisions for the country.
Rahul Gandhi -: Rahul Gandhi is a leader of the Congress party, which is one of the major political parties in India. He is known for his work in politics and his family has a long history in Indian politics.
Jammu and Kashmir -: Jammu and Kashmir is a region in the northern part of India. It has beautiful mountains and is known for its unique culture and history.
Lal Chowk -: Lal Chowk is a famous place in Srinagar, the largest city in Jammu and Kashmir. It is known for its historical and political significance.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi -: Narendra Modi is the current Prime Minister of India. He is the leader of the country and makes important decisions for the nation.
BJP -: BJP stands for Bharatiya Janata Party. It is one of the major political parties in India and is currently in power.
Tarun Chugh -: Tarun Chugh is a member of the BJP. He is involved in politics and helps the party with its activities and decisions.
Statehood -: Statehood means being recognized as a state with its own government. Rahul Gandhi wants Jammu and Kashmir to have its own government again.
Abrogation of Article 370 -: Article 370 was a special law that gave Jammu and Kashmir more autonomy than other states in India. It was removed in 2019, changing the region’s status.
