Rahul Gandhi calls for restoration of J&K statehood

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday called for restoration of statehood in Jammu and Kashmir and accused the BJP-led central government of attacking and damaging the composite culture, harmony and brotherhood of the region.

“Statehood should be restored in J&K,” Gandhi told party workers at a rally to conclude a two-day visit to Jammu. He, however, did not mention restoration of the Article 370 or the special status of J&K.

“RSS and BJP attacked the composite culture and brotherhood in J&K. They weakened you and then stripped you of statehood,” he said.


The Congress leader, who had visited the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine on Thursday, exhorted party workers to chant ‘Jai Mata Di’ repeatedly.

He also said he is a Kashmiri Pandit and promised all support to help the community.

Gandhi invoked Hindu deities Durga, Laxmi and Saraswati to criticise the policies of the Narendra Modi government. “Durga Maa symbolises the saviour force, Laxmi is the force that fulfils one’s aim and Saraswati symbolises knowledge. When these three forces are in a country, it prospers,” he said. “All these forces were weakened due to demonetisation, GST, new farm laws, and when RSS men were appointed in all the institutions across the country,” he alleged.

“Those who call themselves as Hindus are humiliating these forces... You should ask BJP why they are weakening the forces of Maa Durga, Laxmi and Saraswati.”

Gandhi claimed that Congress schemes like MNREGA amplified all these forces. He claimed his party symbolises love and fearlessness, while BJP symbolises fear.

This was Gandhi’s second visit to J&K in about a month. He was in Kashmir on August 9 and 10.

During his stay in Jammu, Gandhi met several delegations including one of Kashmiri Pandits who, he said, lamented about the government’s inability to fulfil promises made to them.

“They told me that the promise of providing Rs 25 lakh compensation hasn’t been fulfilled yet,” Gandhi said. “I myself felt as part of that delegation... My connection with this place goes several years back as I am also a Kashmiri Pandit.”

He assured the Congress workers that their voice would be heard in the party and that they should ensure to strengthen the party at the grassroot level.

Gandhi is hopeful that the party would come back to power in the country with not just 100, 200 or 300 seats, but with 450 seats in parliament.