Jammu, Sept 25:
Terming downgrading the full-fledged state of Jammu and Kashmir into a Union Territory as a brazen act of snatching the democratic rights of the people, Leader of Opposition and Congress Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday vowed that the INDIA bloc will use its full force in the Parliament and on the streets to ensure its restoration if the BJP-led government fails to do so after the assembly polls.
“It is the first time in the history of Independence India after 1947 that a full-fledged state has been downgraded into a Union Territory”, Mr Gandhi said.
Rahul Gandhi, while addressing an impressive public meeting in support of party candidates for assembly segments of Jammu district, strongly criticized the 2019 decision to divide the state into two Union Territories, calling it a grave injustice. He argued that the presence of the Lieutenant Governor has marginalized local interests, benefiting outsiders instead.
Mr Rahul Gandhi assured the youth that restoring statehood is crucial for their future and the region’s progress.
“This has never happened in the history of India that we have taken away statehood and transformed a state into a Union Territory,” Gandhi said.
“It should have never happened in any other part of the country, and I guarantee you that if the BJP does not restore statehood after the elections, we — the INDIA alliance — will use our full force in the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and even take to the streets for the restoration of statehood to J&K,” he asserted.
Rahul Gandhi criticized the current administration for prioritizing “outsiders” over local residents, claiming that the presence of the Lieutenant Governor has marginalized local interests.
“As long as the Lt Governor is there, outsiders will benefit and locals will be sidelined,” he said, arguing that the statehood was revoked to facilitate governance by non-residents.
He told the youths that the restoration of statehood is “your right and your future” and J&K cannot move forward without it.
Gandhi began his day in Jammu with an interaction with local professionals at a hotel before heading to JK Resort Ground for the rally.
He further stated that the restoration of statehood is crucial for the region’s future, asserting, “J&K cannot move forward without it.”
In addition to his focus on statehood, Gandhi criticized the central government’s economic policies, alleging that they favour a select few business magnates.
“This government runs for Ambani and Adani,” he claimed, denouncing the GST and demonetization as tools designed to benefit these conglomerates.
Referring to migrant Kashmiri Pandits and refugees from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, he said all the promises made to them by the Manmohan Singh government will be fulfilled after the formation of the National Conference-Congress government in J&K.
He also said the smart electricity meters will be removed and Punjabi will be granted official language status.
Congress leader accused the BJP government and the Lt Governor of undermining Jammu’s economic strength, which he described as the central hub of J&K essential for facilitating the production chain from the Valley to the rest of the country.
He questioned the Centre’s ‘Make in India’ project and alleged that GST and demonetization were used as weapons to clear roads for business tycoons like Adani and Ambani.
He accused the BJP of using central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Income Tax (IT) to browbeat opponents.
“They (BJP) are talking about ‘Make in India’ and the defence industry but the reality is that all the contracts are going to people like Adani. An Israeli company is making weapons and Adani is pasting his label.
He alleged that the government is only working for billionaires like Adani and Ambani.
“The GST was a weapon to target Jammu entrepreneurs and small and medium businesses. The same way demonetisation was also used as a weapon.
“These are not policies but weapons and its target was to clear the roads for people like Adani and Ambani. The wrong GST implementation and demonetisation led to the destruction of lakhs of small businesses across the country,” he said.
He said the airports, ports, roads, defence weapons and even the apple produced in Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh are controlled by Adani.
“Earlier, the Kashmiri apple was going through Jammu in the rest of the country. Now it is in the hands of Adani who also handles apples from Himachal Pradesh. Same is the position in every industry.
“We have Adani tax on airports and Ambani’s mobile tax. If you want to move on the road, the tax goes to Adani, cereal produce is handled by Adani, the tax on weapons and bullets used by the Army goes to Adani. How long this will go on?” he said.
He alleged that if an airport is being run by someone else, the government is using the CBI and ED to force him to hand it the facility to Adani.
He accused the BJP-led government of waiving loans worth over Rs 16 lakh crore to 25 business tycoons like Adani and Ambani but no such concession was granted to Jammu traders or farmers, the youth who have taken education loans, and the patients who have spent hefty sums on their treatment.
Speaking on the occasion, former minister and Congress candidate for R S Pura-Jammu South Raman Bhalla criticized the BJP-controlled administration for the compounding owes of the masses. He said that during the last 10 years BJP-controlled administration has been pursuing anti-poor policies. He said that people of Jammu and Kashmir have made up their mind to teach BJP a lesson for betraying them.
Apart from other issues confronting the residents of Jammu and Kashmir, Mr Bhalla also highlighted demands of the refugees from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoJK).
Prominent those present on the dais and spoke included AICC incharge J&K Bharat Sinh Solanki, Deputy Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh Mukesh Agnihotri, Vikar Rasool Wani, AICC co-incharge J&K Manoj Yadav, Divya Maderna, All India Mahila Congress president Alka Lamba, Neeraj Kundan, Indian Youth Congress president Udhay Chib, Mula Ram, Yogesh Sawhney, Manmohan Singh, T S Tony, Balbir Singh and others.
Earlier former minister Raman Bhalla presented shawl to Rahul Gandhi.
JKPCC Sr vice president and Chief Spokesperson of JKPCC Ravinder Sharma conducted stage proceedings.
