Will press for restoration of J&K’s statehood, says Rahul at poll rally

Srinagar/Jammu: Lok Sabha leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi renewed Congress’s promise Monday to pile pressure on the Narendra Modi-led Union govt to restore J&K’s statehood.
Addressing rallies in Surankote of Jammu’s Poonch and Srinagar for candidates of Congress ahead of second phase of J&K assembly polls on Sept 25, Rahul laid out his plans to reverse the Aug 2019 annulment of J&K’s statehood.“We will mount pressure on the Centre to restore statehood status to the people of J&K and if they fail to do it, we will get it done,” Rahul said in Surankote in the presence of ally and National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah.
Rahul sought to strike an emotional cord by referring to Modi govt’s 2019 decision as an egregious move unseen in the annals of independent India. “This was the first time that a state was turned into a Union Territory in the country’s history. Your democratic right was snatched,” Rahul said, seeking support for Surankote Congress candidate Shahnawaz Choudhary as curtains fell on the campaign for the second phase of polls.
Surankote assembly segment is among 26 seats that will vote on Sept 25 in the second of the three-stage elections for J&K assembly’s 90 seats. “We were of the view that statehood should be restored first, followed by elections, but they (Centre) did not do it. We will put pressure on them and you will get back your statehood after elections,” Rahul said.
The LoP accused the BJP-led govt of “taking away” the rights of J&K people. “Today, outsiders are making decisions for you and your voice is not there. Your govt is run from Delhi, orders are coming from Delhi. We want your govt to be run from J&K.” The theme continued at Rahul’s Srinagar rally, where he recalled that J&K MLAs once made key local decisions like those related to colleges and universities but these were now in the hands of “outsiders” under a Centre-appointed lieutenant-governor.