Definition of democracy doesn’t fit for a place reduced to UT: Rahul Gandhi

ANANTNAG — Reiterating that J&K has to get back its statehood, senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Parliament Rahul Gandhi said that the definition of democracy doesn’t fit with J&K, which has been reduced to a UT from being a State.

“Either the BJP will announce restoration of Statehood to J&K or the INDIA bloc will do it as its first step after dethroning the Prime Minister Narendera Modi and his party,” Rahul said while addressing a gathering at Dooru in Anantnag district, where he kick-started the election campaign for the party, as per news agency KNO.

Present on the occasion were National Conference chief Dr Farooq Abdullah, NC MP from South Kashmir Mian Altaf, and senior Congress leaders.

Rahul said he wonders how the term democracy fits with J&K under the BJP. “J&K was a State, downgraded to two UTs and yet the BJP claims democracy in J&K. The term fits with the State that has its own Assembly where issues are discussed and laws are made. Here, all such things were snatched,” he said.

He said that in 1947, the then Maharajas (Kings) were sidelined to pave the way for democracy and an elected government. “In J&K, we have an LG. I believe the LG word is wrong. It should be ‘Raja’ of the 21st century as he acts at his will,” Rahul said.

Also Read ✨ 94% Match

Mirwaiz urges all J&K parties to press for Article 370 restoration

Lashing out at the BJP, Rahul said that the Modi government is benefiting only two families—Ambanis and Adanis. “I was told that the names of Ambani and Adani can’t be mentioned in a speech in the Parliament. I requested the Speaker there what I should call them then. I mentioned them as A1 and A2,” said the LoP said. He reiterated that wherever BJP opens the shop of hatred, Congress will open shops of love. “We will win this battle by promoting brotherhood and harmony,” he said.

Rahul urged the people to support each other. “Wherever there is an NC candidate, Congress leaders and workers should support him and vice-versa,” he said, adding that the NC-Congress government will come to J&K for sure.

He said that Kashmiri Pandits were exploited by the BJP for vote bank politics. “In lieu, KPs got nothing,” he said.

Rahul asked a party candidate from Dooru, Ghulam Ahmed Mir, to invite him for two to three days to Anantnag. “You are inviting me for 45 minutes. Is say dil nahi bharta,” he said.