Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, intensified his protests over the issue of Statehood for Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday. He threatened to initiate demonstrations both inside Parliament and on the streets to compel the BJP-led government to restore Statehood to the region.
Gandhi stated, “Statehood is your right and your future. J&K cannot move forward without it. The INDIA alliance will pressure the BJP government to restore Statehood. If they refuse, we will storm the well in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and also protest across the country.” His remarks were made during several election rallies in Jammu and north Kashmir.
During an interaction with local professionals in Jammu, Gandhi expressed confidence that the INDIA alliance would restore Statehood if they come to power, emphasizing the urgency of the matter ahead of upcoming Assembly elections. He highlighted that several states in India have been bifurcated historically but criticized the unprecedented change of Jammu and Kashmir from a state to a Union Territory, calling it “a matter of shame.”
Gandhi accused the central government of downgrading J&K to a Union Territory to allow non-residents to govern the area, claiming that the local populace is being sidelined. “Statehood was revoked to facilitate governance by outsiders,” he said, criticizing the current administration’s reliance on the Lieutenant Governor.
In Sopore, known for its apple production, Gandhi remarked that apples from north Kashmir should reach international markets including the U.S., China, and Japan. “I want this apple to go to America. The first step has to be the restoration of Statehood. Without that, it is not possible,” he emphasized. He reiterated his party’s promise of a minimum support price of ₹72 per kilogram for apple producers and included assurances that the produce would be covered under a crop insurance scheme.
Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of favoring business tycoons, Gandhi stated, “Kashmir’s economy was dependent on its apple, but today PM Modi has handed over Kashmiri apples to the Adanis and Ambanis.” He condemned what he termed “Adani tax” and “Ambani tax,” arguing that the government prioritizes the interests of these business magnates, having waived loans worth ₹16 lakh crore for them.
Additionally, Gandhi pledged to fulfill the vision of the Manmohan Singh government regarding the return of Kashmiri migrants to the Valley. In his outreach efforts to voters in the Jammu region, which is set to vote on October 1, he assured that smart electricity meters would be removed and Punjabi would be made an official language.
The statements were made as part of his campaign efforts amid phase-2 polling on September 25, 2024.
