Oppn will fight for J&K statehood in Parliament, on streets: Rahul

Jammu:Congress MP Rahul Gandhi issued a stern warning to BJP-led Union govt Wednesday, vowing that the opposition INDIA bloc will “hit the road and use full force” both inside Parliament and outside if J&K’s statehood is not restored after the ongoing assembly elections. The three-phase elections will wrap up on Oct 1, with votes counted on Oct 8.Addressing a rally in Jammu, Gandhi reiterated the primary election promise of the Congress-National Conference (NC) alliance, saying the restoration of statehood is J&K’s “right and future”. He said: “J&K cannot move forward without it.”Gandhi pointed out that while other states had been created after 1947, this was the first time a state had been reduced to a Union territory. “States were divided. Telangana was formed out of Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand out of Bihar, and Chhattisgarh out of Madhya Pradesh. But for the first time, a state was turned into a Union territory. This was done to J&K,” Gandhi said.J&K lost its special status after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 and the subsequent bifurcation of the region into two Union territories, including Ladakh.The former Congress president condemned the move as “injustice” and accused the Narendra Modi govt of snatching away the democratic rights of the region’s people. “Today, J&K is run by people from other states,” he said, targeting lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha, whom he described as a “king, not LG”.Gandhi alleged that as long as the current administration led by the LG continues “outsiders will get benefits, and you will be sidelined”.Later, Gandhi spoke at a rally in Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, where he focused on the economic potential of the region’s apple. Holding an apple in his hand, he declared: “This apple has to be taken abroad. Your future lies in this.”He promised that if the Congress-NC alliance is elected, it would promote the Sopore apple in international markets. “I want this apple to go to America. If this apple has to reach Japan and America, the first step has to be the restoration of statehood. Without that, it is not possible,” he said.He linked the struggles of apple farmers to the influence of billionaire Gautam Adani. “The reason why farmers are not getting good prices for their apples, whether here or in Himachal, is because of Adani,” PTI quoted him as saying.

Will push for restoration of J&Ks statehood: Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi reaffirmed Congress's promise to push for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's statehood, criticizing the Modi government's 2019 decision to convert it into a Union Territory. Speaking at rallies in Surankote and Srinagar, he pledged job creation if Congress secures victory in the forthcoming assembly elections.

'INDIA bloc will fight in Parliament, take to streets if J&K statehood not restored': Congress MP Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi has committed that the INDIA bloc will use its full strength in Parliament to restore Jammu and Kashmir's statehood if the BJP does not act after current elections. At a rally, he criticized the 2019 statehood revocation, alleging it benefits outsiders and hinders local progress, promising protests if necessary.

'Your democratic rights have been ...': Rahul Gandhi reiterates demand for statehood for Jammu and Kashmir

Rahul Gandhi reiterated his call for restoring full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, criticizing the Modi government for taking away democratic rights. He pointed out that this is the first instance of a state being downgraded to a Union Territory. The Supreme Court has mandated local legislative elections in Indian-administered Kashmir by September 2024.