The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — Congress leader Rahul Gandhi declared on Monday at a rally in Srinagar that he would ensure that Jammu and Kashmir's statehood is restored and that outsiders do not rule the erstwhile state.

Addressing a rally in Shalteng area, he said, "We want to give you statehood so that you can choose your own development, and I guarantee you, not outsiders, who are ruling as king here, will rule you."

Gandhi assured the crowd that Congress would pressure the BJP to restore statehood. "If they don't, I guarantee we will."

Gandhi reaffirmed his commitment to restoring Jammu and Kashmir's statehood, criticizing the BJP government's decision to revoke it as a "historic injustice." "Normally, Union Territories are upgraded to States, but they downgraded a State to a UT," he said.

He lambasted the BJP's divisive politics, fostering hatred and prioritizing billionaires' interests. "They made one language fight another, one state against another, and brother against brother."

Gandhi shared his experiences from the Bharat Jodo Yatra, where he travelled 4,000 kilometres to spread love and unity. "Wherever they sowed seeds of hatred, we sowed seeds of love and harmony."

He criticized the BJP government's economic policies, pointing out the waiver of Rs 16 lakh crore loans for 25 select individuals while neglecting the poor, farmers and youth. "They have destroyed small businesses with GST and failed to provide employment."

The Congress leader promised to provide 1 lakh jobs and Rs 3000 unemployment stipend to J&K youth. "We want J&K to regain its autonomy, take its own decisions, and develop."

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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.

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JAMMU — Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said that there can be no talks with Pakistan until peace becomes a permanent feature in Jammu and Kashmir and that statehood will be restored at an appropriate time after Assembly polls.

“National Conference has advocated talks with Pakistan in its manifesto. Let me make it clear that there can be no talks with Pakistan until peace becomes a permanent feature in J&K,” Shah said while addressing a massive gathering in Jammu, as per the news agency KNO.

He kick-started the election campaign for the BJP and dared Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah on the Gujjar-Bakerwal and Dalit reservation, stating that “no power can touch this reservation.”

Taking a jibe at the NC-Congress for claiming they will bring back the statehood to J&K, he said, “Perhaps, Rahul Baba and Omar are unaware of my August 5, 2019 speech where I have clarified that statehood will be restored to J&K post polls at an appropriate time.”

In a scathing attack on Rahul and Omar, the Union Home Minister said, “I wonder how they can bring back statehood. Can they clarify? It is the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government that can give back the statehood to J&K.”

He said that it would be the first election in J&K when there is only one flag, one constitution and one Prime Minister. “Prime Minister is always one for the nation. From Kanyakumari to Kashmir, there is only one PM, that is Narendra Modi,” Shah said.

Shah asked the BJP workers to come along with four families early in the morning and finish voting by 11:30 am. Shah asked the workers to take a pledge that they would vote against Abdullahs, Muftis and Gandhis. He also raised the slogan: “Jahan Huway Balidan Mukherji, Wo Kashmiri Hamara hai.”

Shah said that as a politician, the people of Jammu and Kashmir should read the writing on the wall that NC-Congress can never form government in J&K. Lashing out at PDP for advocating cross-LoC trade, Shah said the profit earned out of the trade would directly go into the pockets of “terror mentors.”

Taking a jibe at NC for befooling people in the name of autonomy, Shah said it was because of this slogan that 40,000 people lost their lives in J&K in the past three decades. “Nobody can talk about autonomy now. Gone are those days,” he said.

Shah urged the BJP workers not to vote for NC, Congress and PDP as they want to revive terrorism, separatism and stone pelting in J&K. “These parties want the release of terror mentors and those who spent money to promote stone pelting. Do they deserve votes for this,” Shah asked as workers shouted “No”.

The Union Home Minister said that NC wants to change the name of Shankaracharya Hill to Takhtay Sulaiman. “We will not allow this, come what may,” he said.

He said that it was the NC that forced the then Maharaja of J&K, Hari Singh to flee Kashmir. “Later, what returned to J&K was the body of Hari Singh, who acceded to India in 1947,” he said.

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