Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said that the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir is not only the responsibility of political parties but also the citizens of India and assured that it will be the first decision of INDI alliance government at the Centre if the Modi government fails to restore it after the upcoming Assembly polls.
Addressing an election rally in Dooru Assembly segment of Anantnag district, Rahul Gandhi said, “For the first time in the history of independent India, a state was turned into a Union Territory. When we turn a UT into a state or divide a state, we deepen democracy and take forward rights even deeper. But when we make a state into a UT, rights are snatched away. This injustice has been done to you, with J&K…”
AICC general secretary GA Mir is contesting the polls from Dooru Assembly seat as candidate of Congress-NC alliance.
Rahul said restoring the statehood of J&K is not only the responsibility of Congress or National Conference or INDI alliance’s, but of every citizen of India.
“I am here to tell you that BJP and RSS might tell you anything, we are going to give back statehood to the people of J&K. We wanted statehood to be restored before elections but BJP didn’t want this, they wanted elections first. We accept that…,” said Rahul.
He guaranteed that Jammu and Kashmir will get back its statehood soon.
“One thing is sure that Jammu and Kashmir will get back its statehood, I guarantee that. Either the BJP restores it (after polls) or when INDIA bloc forms the next government (at the Centre), it will be the first decision to be taken,” he said.
Gandhi claimed that the lieutenant governor appointed by the Centre in Jammu and Kashmir is acting like a “21st century king” and all benefits are being given to people from outside the UT.
“Here, LG is the king of the 21st century. Whatever he wants, he does it. The people here neither get employment nor any other benefits. The government gives all that to outsiders.
“They won’t do anything about high electricity tariffs. They will give benefits to BJP and RSS people. This fight is not only here but throughout the country…the BJP and RSS are attacking democracy. The institutions like EC, bureaucracy, media, all are being controlled,” he said.
With inputs from agencies
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