Priority of Congress, INDIA bloc is to restore statehood and democratic rights of J&K: Rahul Gandhi

Srinagar: Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi arrived in Srinagar on Thursday to hold crucial discussions with party workers and finalise strategic alliances for the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections.

While addressing the meeting, Rahul Gandhi said it is a priority of Congress and INDIA alliance to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir as soon as possible.

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He said, “It is our priority in the Congress Party and also in the INDIA alliance to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir as soon as possible. We had expected that this would be done prior to the elections but elections have been declared. It is a step forward and we are hoping that statehood would be restored as soon as possible and the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, democratic rights will be restored to them. This is the first time since independence that a state has become union territories. This has never happened before. Union territories have become states but it is the first time that State has become Union Territory. So, we are very clear in our national manifesto as well that it is a priority for us that the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh get their democratic rights back.”

He added that, “My message to the people of Jammu and Kashmir is, however we can help you, the Congress Party is always there. We understand that you’re going through a very difficult period, a tough period, and we want to remove violence…”

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi interactions with party workers here to get feedback about the grassroots-level preparations for the upcoming assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

Gandhi and Kharge, who arrived here on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir a day earlier, reached Hotel Radisson Collection in the Rajbagh area of the city to hold consultations with party workers, a Congress leader said.

He said Congress workers, including district presidents, DDC members and other leaders from all 10 districts of the Valley reached the hotel in the morning for the interaction.

Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir will be held in three phases — September 18, September 25 and October 1. The counting of votes will be held on October 4.
(with agency inputs)

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