Inside Rahul Gandhi's Interview With Satya Pal Malik: Pulwama, Article 370, Manipur, Adani & More

In a new video released by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, he conducted an interview with former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik. During the interview, a range of topics was discussed, including the Pulwama terror attack, the farmers' protest, and Gautam Adani.

Political Use of Pulwama Attack Alleged

Satya Pal Malik, the last governor of Jammu and Kashmir before it became a Union Territory, asserted that the Pulwama attack was exploited for political purposes by the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP). The attack, which occurred in February 2019, resulted in the loss of 40 CRPF personnel when a suicide bomber from Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into their bus.

Malik claimed that the CRPF soldiers had requested five aircraft, but their request was denied by the Home Ministry. He revealed that "Their application was lying in the Home Ministry for four months," and was ultimately rejected, forcing the personnel to travel by road.

Furthermore, Malik stated that both Prime Minister Modi and Ajit Doval, the National Security Advisor of India, advised him not to discuss the issue. "Besides this, the vehicle which rammed into the CRPF bus was roaming there for 10 days before the incident. It was full of explosives," the former J&K governor added.

Managing Jammu and Kashmir Through Engagement

Malik emphasized that Jammu and Kashmir cannot be effectively managed through force or the presence of the army. He suggested that engaging with the local population was key to achieving success in the region. "You can do anything by winning over the people there", he said.

According to Malik, the people of J&K were more hurt by the loss of their statehood than the abrogation of Article 370. He called for the immediate restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's statehood and the holding of elections.

Insight into Manipur's Ethnic Strife

Malik also discussed the ongoing ethnic tensions in Manipur and pointed out the government's failure in addressing the situation. "Neither the Chief Minister can go there nor can he do anything. Yet, he has not been removed," he added further.

Farmers' Issues and the Minimum Support Price

In the interview, Malik addressed the farmers' agitation and identified the immediate implementation of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) as a solution to their problems. He noted that although the government had promised to implement MSP when the farm laws were repealed, no action had been taken.

The veteran leader also alleged that Adani had constructed large warehouses and purchased crops at a fixed price, planning to sell them at higher prices the following year. "Because Adani built large godowns and purchased crops at a set price. Next year, their prices will increase and he will sell it," He asserted that the implementation of MSP would prevent farmers from selling their produce at low prices.