Congress leader Rahul Gandhi emphasized the party’s commitment to restoring Jammu and Kashmir’s (J&K) statehood during a rally in Jammu on Wednesday. He asserted that the Congress would fight for this cause both in Parliament and through public demonstrations.
Gandhi criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for allegedly stripping J&K of its statehood in order to govern through a lieutenant governor (LG) and facilitate the benefits for outsiders at the expense of local residents. He stated, “Until the lieutenant governor is here, outsiders will continue to get benefits at the expense of the people of J&K.”
The rally coincided with the second phase of J&K’s assembly elections, marking the first elections since 2014. Gandhi argued that these elections are fundamentally about the rights of the people. He assured attendees that once statehood is restored, a government would protect local industries and facilitate access to banking for the common populace.
Gandhi highlighted that historically, Union territories have been granted statehood while states have been divided, but never has a state been downgraded to a Union territory. He termed the removal of J&K’s statehood as a “grave injustice” and expressed disappointment that the BJP opted for elections before restoring statehood.
Gandhi pledged that if the BJP fails to restore statehood, the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) would ensure it becomes a priority under their governance. “This is your right,” he stated.
Gandhi also criticized the BJP for allegedly favoring prominent business tycoons, specifically targeting the impact of GST and demonetization on the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector. He claimed that these policies disproportionately benefited billionaires like Ambani and Adani while harming local businesses and employment opportunities.
Describing Jammu as a business hub linking Kashmir to the rest of the country, Gandhi expressed concern over the state of the MSME sector. He noted that local entrepreneurs indicated the sector has been severely weakened, and stressed that unless small and medium businesses are supported, youth employment will continue to suffer.
