india-bloc-to-restore-statehood-to-j-k-rahul-gandhi

The leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, launched the Congress Party’s election campaign in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) on Tuesday, promising to restore statehood if the INDIA bloc came to power.

Addressing a rally in Banihal for his party's candidate Vikar Rasool Wani, Gandhi said, “We wished for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir before the Assembly elections, but the BJP was not willing to do so and wanted the polls to be held first” 

Gandhi said, "We, along with the help of the INDIA Bloc will return statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, whether the BJP likes it or not. We will put pressure on the government and make sure statehood is restored,” he said. 

Gandhi was addressing a poll rally at Sangaldan, as part of the Banihal assembly segment in Ramban district, which will vote in the second phase on September 25. 

Even as Gandhi was addressing the massive gathering, National Conference (NC) chairperson Farooq Abdullah said his party’s alliance with Congress was not out of compulsion but was the need of the hour to defeat the BJP.

Reacting to remarks made by the BJP poll in-charge of J&K Ram Madhav, who earlier in the day had alleged that the NC and PDP manifestoes advocated the revival of terrorism, Abdullah said Gandhi’s visit to the UT was a tight slap on the faces of those who accuse J&K leaders of being Pakistanis and Khalistanis. 

“It is not a compulsion. It is the need of the hour. We want to take everyone along for the development of Jammu and Kashmir,” Abdullah told reporters while he was leaving for the election rally to be addressed by Gandhi in south Kashmir. 

“He (Rahul) is a big voice for our nation. I hope the people of the country understand that we want the state (Jammu and Kashmir) to come out of this difficult period and develop.

I have seen for the first time that a state has been downgraded to a union territory. This has to change, and full statehood has to be restored. That is what we are trying to do," he added. 

Abdullah did not comment on recent statements made by PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti against the NC, saying “She keeps on saying different things."