Restoration of statehood to JK collective responsibility of country’s all citizens: Rahul
Dooru/Banihal: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir is the collective responsibility of all citizens of the country and assured that it will be the first decision of INDIA bloc government at the Centre if the Modi government fails to restore it after assembly polls.
The leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha was addressing an election rally in Dooru assembly segment of Jammu and Kashmir, 75 kilometres from Srinagar. AICC general secretary G A Mir is contesting the polls from this seat as candidate of Congress-NC alliance.
“Restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir is a responsibility of not only the Congress party or INDIA bloc but of every citizen of the country,” Gandhi said.
He said his party had wanted that the statehood to Jammu and Kashmir be restored before holding of assembly polls but the BJP wanted to do it after the elections.
“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.
The former Congress chief said it was for the first time since Independence that a state has been reduced to a Union territory which has led to snatching of rights of the people.
“Upgrading a Union territory to state or dividing a state for creating new states leads to devolution of power as states have assemblies which make their own laws. But reducing a state to a Union territory takes away the powers and this injustice has happened with Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.
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.
Earlier, at a poll rally at Sangaldan in Banihal Assembly constituency, he claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has lost his confidence after the recently held Lok Sabha elections and the time is not far when his government will be removed.
He claimed the Central government is run by PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and their corporate friends.
Targeting Modi over the unemployment issue, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said implementation of GST and demonetisation harmed the interests of small businesses as the government is working for two billionaires.
“I was told not to name Modi’s corporate friends Adani and Ambani so I am using aliases like A1 and A2 for them. This government is like ‘we two, our two’ — Modi and Shah, and Ambani and Adani — these four are actually running the government,” Gandhi said.
The Congress leader alleged that Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood was “snatched” following the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution “to benefit the two billionaires”.
The situation in Jammu and Kashmir is worse than the rest of the country as it has the highest unemployment rate and the government has done nothing to generate employment opportunities for the youth, Gandhi claimed while addressing the poll rally.
He claimed that PM Modi’s confidence went down when opposition parties came together under the INDIA bloc umbrella to challenge him.
“We have finished Modi psychologically. I sit in front of him in Parliament and I know his confidence is gone… Now a little time has left, we will remove Modi and BJP from government,” the senior Congress leader said.
Continuing his tirade against the prime minister, he said, “First Modi said there would be no caste-based census but we insisted on it. The RSS is now saying it is right. We opposed the lateral entry system and put pressure on the government. Now he is frightened.”
“You have seen that in earlier elections Modi used to come with a broad chest and make long speeches. But now he is holding the book of constitution on his head while entering Parliament.”
Launching a broadside on PM Modi, Gandhi said he has claimed to have a direct connection with God and “is on record having said that his birth is non-biological”.
“This (Lok Sabha) election, Modi got a direct message from God. You may feel that you are talking directly to God but He is only listening to the masses and working accordingly,” the Congress leader said.
Following the rally at Banihal Assembly constituency in Ramban district in support of Congress candidate and the party’s former Jammu and Kashmir unit chief Vikar Rasool Wani, Gandhi is scheduled to address another meeting in Dooru assembly segment under Anantnag district for Ghulam Ahmed Mir.
These rallies are part of the campaign for the party’s candidates contesting in the first phase of the elections on September 18.
Polling to elect 90 members of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly will be held on September 18, 25, and October 1.
Press Trust of India
