Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, announced on Wednesday that the INDIA bloc would take strong action both in Parliament and on the streets if the BJP-led government does not restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir following the current assembly elections. Speaking at a public rally in support of party candidates, Gandhi emphasized the injustice done to the people of Jammu and Kashmir when the region was split into two union territories in 2019.
This marked Gandhi’s third visit to Jammu and Kashmir in the last three weeks. His earlier trips included visits to Banihal and Dooru constituencies on September 4, just ahead of the first phase of assembly elections on September 18. On September 23, he traveled to Surankote and Central-Shalteng before the second phase of elections on September 25.
After arriving in Jammu on Wednesday, Gandhi met with professionals at a local hotel before heading to JK Resort Ground to address the rally.
Reaffirming his commitment to restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, Gandhi said, "This has never happened in the history of India that statehood has been taken away and a state turned into a union territory."
He further added, "It should never have happened, and I promise you, if the BJP does not restore statehood after the elections, we — the INDIA alliance — will use all our power in the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and even take to the streets to ensure statehood is returned to Jammu and Kashmir."
Gandhi accused the government of taking statehood away to favor "outsiders" through the Lt Governor’s administration.
"As long as the Lt Governor remains in charge, outsiders will benefit while the locals will be marginalized. This was the very reason statehood was stripped away — they wanted outsiders, not locals, to run Jammu and Kashmir," he said.
He assured the audience that restoring statehood is "your right and your future," adding that the region cannot progress without it.
Gandhi also spoke about what he described as a systematic attack on small and medium businesses across India. "This government operates for Ambani and Adani. GST and demonetization were tools used to clear the path for them."
He criticized the 'Make in India' initiative, referring to it as the 'Make in Adani' program, claiming that contracts under the scheme were being handed to the Adani business conglomerate.
Lastly, he blamed the BJP government and the Lt Governor for undermining Jammu, which he described as the central hub of Jammu and Kashmir, affecting the smooth flow of the production chain from the Valley to the rest of India.
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