Will put pressure on BJP to restore statehood: Rahul - Greater Kashmir

Jammu, Sep 23: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and former All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Rahul Gandhi Monday stated that Congress, after assembly elections, would put pressure on BJP government at the Centre to restore statehood to J&K.

“At first, we will put pressure on them after assembly elections to immediately restore statehood to J&K and undo the injustice done to its (J&K’s) people. If they won’t, we would do it for you, for sure,” he reiterated.

The Leader of the Opposition accused the BJP-led central government of ruling J&K from (New) Delhi, with decisions being made by non-locals.

He was addressing an election rally in Surankote in support of Congress candidate Chowdhary Shahnawaz.

National Conference (NC) president Dr Farooq Abdullah besides senior Congress leaders including former Union Minister Bharatsinh Solanki accompanied Rahul on the dais.

“What belonged to you was also snatched away from you. Earlier your elected government used to take decisions keeping in view your (people’s) interests and your bright future. At present such decisions are taken by outsiders. You don’t have any say in running the affairs of your own government. Direct orders from (New) Delhi are being implemented here. We want your government to be run from J&K. That is why we wanted statehood first,” Rahul said.

“J&K’s fate is now decided by outsiders,” he said, pointing to the loss of autonomy to rule. He also alleged that the state’s downgrade to a Union Territory was primarily aimed at benefiting a handful of powerful industrialists, claiming that the government was prioritizing the interests of a select few over the common people.

Rahul also criticized the BJP for downgrading Jammu and Kashmir from a full-fledged state to a Union Territory, calling it an unprecedented move in modern Indian history.  He highlighted that Jammu and Kashmir was the first state in India’s history to be bifurcated into two Union Territories—Ladakh and J&K.

He noted that, unlike other regions that saw the creation of new states from the biggest states, J&K was downgraded, and with it, the democratic rights of its people were stripped away.

“This is the first time that a state has been reduced to a Union Territory. Your right to self-governance was snatched from you,” he declared, emphasising, “The restoration of statehood remains a top priority for the Congress party.”

BJP-RSS PROPAGATING HATRED, VIOLENCE

“Farooq Sahab talked about (fight against) hatred. You know that these people from BJP and RSS in J&K and other states in the country spread only hatred and violence 24X7. Wherever they go, they create divisions among brothers, be it J&K, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Manipur or any other part of the country, they propagate hatred. This is their only mission. They know nothing but to spread hatred. Their politics revolves around it only,” Rahul alleged.

“You know that hatred cannot be eliminated through hatred. It can be erased only through love. So this is a fight of two ideologies. On one side, there are people who propagate hatred and on the other side, there are people who want to open a love-mart (Mohabbat Ki Dukan). We traversed from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and then from Manipur to Maharashtra with a single message i.e., hatred does not serve anyone’s interest,” Rahul said that they (Congress) opened love-marts in the markets of hatred in every state,” he said.

PM MODI LOST HIS AURA; CONFIDENCE SHATTERED

Taking a dig at his bête-noire – the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former AICC President reiterated, “The Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who would boast about his 56-inch chest, has lost his aura. You would be watching him from a distance but I could see from a close quarter as I stood there in front of him in the Parliament. So I could see very clearly that he (PM) was a mere shadow of his earlier-self. He has lost his previous domineering aura.”

“This is the scenario that whatever opposition desires, it gets it accomplished. They (government) bring a law, we (opposition) stand in front of them (opposing law). They cannot get it passed and then they are forced to bring a new law. Their confidence, which earlier they would flaunt, has been shattered. We’ve been able to make Narendra Modi’s psychology crumble. This is clearly reflective on his face, in his persona,” he said.

Rahul said, “During (Lok Sabha) elections, he (PM) crumbled under pressure to the extent that he stated he was a non-biological entity and he had a direct connection up there (with the God). This statement reflected psychological pressure on him. It is evident that INDI Alliance has demolished Narendra Modi psychologically forever but we did not do it through hatred. We demolished (their) hatred with love.”

Rahul reaffirmed his commitment to the people of J&K, promising to be their voice in Parliament.

“Whenever you need me, just call, and I will be here. I will ensure your concerns are heard in Parliament,” he told the gathering, underlining his long-standing connection with the region.

He further criticised the BJP and RSS for spreading divisiveness through religion, language, caste and even on regional lines. “They are resorting to the same politics here in J&K. But we will fail their agenda and will move forward taking all sections along,” he said.

Referring to the economic challenges facing the country, Rahul lambasted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s policies, particularly demonetization and the introduction of a flawed GST, which, he said, had crippled small and medium businesses.

He accused the Modi government of waiving loans worth Rs 16 lakh Cr for a select few around 25 businessmen like Ambani-Adani, while ignoring the needs of farmers, labourers and students. This directly resulted in loss of jobs for youth.

He noted that despite high educational qualifications, the youth of J&K were struggling to find jobs, a situation he attributed directly to the Modi government’s economic mismanagement.

Abdullah, who started his address by describing Rahul as “future Prime Minister of India”, said that the fight was against hatred, being spread by BJP and RSS.

“Earlier they (BJP-RSS) tried to create animosity between Hindus and Muslims; Hindus and Sikhs and then Hindus and Christians to procure power. However, they’ve failed in their efforts. Their graph is declining,” Abdullah alleged.

He urged the National Conference rebel Chowdhary Akram, who is contesting as an independent against Congress candidate, to withdraw from the contest to strengthen Congress-NC alliance.

“His (Akram’s) presence in the electoral fray is strengthening those forces which want to eliminate us (Muslims). The Prime Minister, himself, describes Muslims as “infiltrators.” He (PM Modi) blames Muslims for uncontrolled population growth in the country. He alleges that the wealth of others will be distributed among Muslims and even “Mangalsutra” (sacred thread worn by married Hindu women) will be taken away by them (by Congress and its INDI Alliance partners) so as to give it to Muslims. They (BJP-RSS) belong to that class of people, who only propagate hatred,” Farooq said.

In the same context, he also explained the rationale behind the NC-Congress alliance.

“You know why NC and Congress entered into an alliance. We have only one objective that is to oust these forces of hatred; remove BJP-RSS from power, not just from J&K but across the country. We thought that we would have to give sacrifices. NC had already given many sacrifices for it. Congress too had to sacrifice lives for this objective. So we decided to come together to achieve this common objective,” Farooq said.

“To weaken us (alliance), they are spreading canards that Mianji (Mian Altaf) is not with us and that’s why he did not accompany me. This is a white lie. He (Mian Altaf) is with us. He would have accompanied me too. But he was busy campaigning for his son, who is also in the electoral fray. Today is the last day of campaigning (for the second phase of assembly elections). It was necessary for him (Mian Altaf) to side with his son this time and campaign for him,” NC President sought to clear air.

“That is why I appeal to Chowdhary Akram not to spread hatred and weaken the alliance,” Farooq exhorted the rebel candidate.

He said that the time was ripe to rise above sectarian thinking and get united to prevail over forces of hatred.

“Forget about fights of Hindu-Muslim, Gujjar-Paharis or Shia-Sunni and get united. This is not the time to talk about Dharm (religion); this is the time to talk and focus only on Karm (work or action) to eliminate forces which want to damage India, its integrity. Vote for ‘Hand’ to strengthen forces which want to propagate love,” he said.

Abdullah said, “Rahul Gandhi says that he wants to open a love-mart (Mohabbat Ki Dukan) in the market of hatred. I want to add to his phrase. We, the people of J&K, want to destroy and sink the vehicle or carrier of hatred and move across the country on a vehicle, spreading and propagating love.”

AICC in-charge Jammu and Kashmir Bharat Sinh Solanki, AICC Co-incharge Manoj Yadav, Congress candidate from Surankote Assembly segment Shahnawaz Hussain, JKPCC Senior vice president and chief spokesperson of the party, Ravinder Sharma, Congress candidate for Thanamandi assembly segment Shabir Khan, Congress candidate for Rajouri seat, Iftikhar Ahmed also spoke on the occasion.