Rahul Gandhi Vows To Restore Jammu And Kashmir Statehood: A Call To Action Against BJP's Rule

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has pledged to restore Jammu and Kashmir's (J&K) statehood, asserting that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stripped it away to govern the region through the lieutenant governor (LG) and external influences.

Speaking at a rally in Jammu, Gandhi emphasized that the Congress party would advocate for statehood both in Parliament and through public demonstrations.

"The BJP wants to manage the region with the LG and outsiders, compromising the prosperity of the local population. As long as the lieutenant governor is in place, benefits will continue to flow to outsiders at the expense of J&K residents," he stated. This rally coincides with the second phase of J&K's first assembly elections since 2014, following the region's division into two Union territories after the revocation of its semi-autonomous status under Article 370 in August 2019.

Gandhi highlighted the significance of these elections for the people's rights, promising that statehood restoration would lead to better protection for local industries and improved access to banking for common citizens. He pointed out the historical context, noting that while Union territories can be elevated to statehood, it is unprecedented for a state to be downgraded to a Union territory, which he described as a "grave injustice" to the people of J&K.

Expressing his expectations for the election process, Gandhi remarked, "We believed that statehood would be restored prior to the elections; that would have been the proper course of action. Instead, they chose to hold elections first."

Gandhi committed to leveraging the full strength of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) to pressure the BJP into restoring statehood. "If the BJP fails to take action for any reason, the first task of the INDIA government will be to grant statehood, as it is your right," he asserted.

Additionally, Gandhi accused the BJP government of favoring two prominent business tycoons, alleging that it operated primarily in the interest of Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani. He claimed that the government's policies, including the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and demonetization, were designed to benefit these billionaires at the expense of the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector. "The government has waived debts for 25 billionaires, significantly impacting the poorer segments of society. Decisions like demonetization and GST have devastated the MSME sector, which is crucial for job creation," he said.

Gandhi described Jammu as a vital business hub, serving as a link between Kashmir and the rest of India. He expressed concern over the plight of local entrepreneurs, stating, "I met several professionals and entrepreneurs who conveyed how the backbone of the MSME sector has been broken here. Unless small and medium businesses regain their footing, job opportunities for the youth will remain scarce."