SRINAGAR — On September 4, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a sharp attack against Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, accusing him of acting like a monarch and "snatching" the Union territory's resources.
Speaking at a rally in Ramban on Wednesday, Gandhi criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for denying J&K statehood five years after the revocation of its special status.
Gandhi, the former Congress president, drew parallels between the current administration and the region's erstwhile monarchical rule, which ended after India’s independence in 1947.
"Today, there is a 'king' named LG in J&K, who is taking your money and giving it to outsiders," Gandhi claimed. He vowed that his party would prioritize restoring J&K's statehood, asserting that the withdrawal of its autonomous status had not only stripped the region of its state identity but also diluted its people's rights and resources.
Gandhi further criticized the BJP's stance on statehood and elections, stating, "We wanted statehood restored first, and then elections. The BJP says elections first, then statehood. But we will push so hard that statehood will have to be returned, regardless of what the BJP wants."
The upcoming Assembly elections, set to take place in three phases on September 18, 25, and October 1, will be the first in J&K since the abrogation of Article 370, which ended the region’s special status.
The Congress party and its ally, the National Conference, have agreed to contest the polls together, with the National Conference running in 51 of the 90 Assembly seats and Congress fielding candidates in 32. A friendly contest is expected on the remaining five seats.
LG Manoj Sinha's responds to RaGa's criticism
Responding to Gandhi's comments, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha challenged the opposition leader to gauge public sentiment through a secret ballot.
Speaking at Aaj Tak’s 'Panchayat' event in Srinagar on Thursday, Sinha said he would resign if less than 75% of the people said that progress had been made in J&K over the past five years.
"He (Rahul Gandhi) should take the opinion of the public. If more than 75% do not say that work has been done for their welfare, I will resign," Sinha declared. He added that his administration was committed to ensuring free and fair elections, noting that political activities were already underway in the region.
Sinha also emphasized that J&K has seen significant voter participation, with the highest turnout in a Lok Sabha election in 35 years recorded earlier this year. He maintained that the people of J&K, especially in the Valley, have faith in India's democracy.
Reaffirming his support for the region's future government, Sinha remarked, "Whichever party forms the next government in J&K will have my full support."
The Lieutenant Governor reiterated that Article 370 is no longer part of the Constitution, a decision upheld by the Supreme Court, and urged the opposition to acknowledge this change.
This post first appeared on The Kashmir Pulse
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