DOORU (KASHMIR): Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, asserted on Wednesday that if the I.N.D.I.A. bloc comes to power, their first priority will be restoring Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood. Speaking at election rallies in Jammu’s Chenab Valley, Gandhi criticised the BJP for downgrading J&K to a Union Territory, arguing that democracy cannot thrive without a state Assembly.
“Either BJP (government) will announce the restoration of statehood to J&K or I.N.D.I.A. bloc will be doing it as its first step after ousting the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party,” he said while addressing election rallies here and earlier at Sangaldan, a township which falls in the Gool-Gulabgarh area of the Jammu region’s Chenab valley.
Gandhi accused the BJP of eroding democratic structures and polarising the country along religious and caste lines. Mr. Gandhi claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is psychologically finished as he has lost his confidence after the BJP’s poor performance in the recently held Lok Sabha elections. He also said the time is not far when his government will be removed.
Gandhi also criticised the Central government's economic policies, alleging that they favour a few corporate giants, and accused the BJP of exploiting the plight of displaced Kashmiri Pandits for political gain. National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, also speaking at the event, emphasised the importance of the Congress-NC alliance in addressing J&K's issues and restoring its statehood.
