Rahul Gandhi kicked off his J&K election campaign with rallies in Jammu and Anantnag, accusing BJP of “snatching” the region’s statehood and vowing that Congress would have it restored with help from its INDIA Alliance partners.
“They (BJP) snatched not only your statehood but also your rights, money, and everything,” Rahul told a rally at Sangaldan in Banihal constituency of Jammu’s Ramban district ahead of the three-phased assembly polls from Sept 18 to Oct 1. These are the first assembly polls after the 2019 abrogation of J&K’s special status.
Congress is contesting the polls in a tie-up with INDIA bloc ally NC. “For the first time in independent India, a state was downgraded to a UT, and the rights of people snatched,” Rahul said, referring to 2019 abrogation.
Ex-militants campaigning for NC & PDP,: Ram Madhav
National Conference (NC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) are receiving support from former militants for the assembly elections in J&K, BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav said in Srinagar. He also alleged that the manifestos of the two regional parties advocate the “revival of terrorism” in the Union territory.
“I have information that former militants are openly campaigning for the candidates of NC and PDP. Now it is up to the people whether they want the revival of terrorism in J&K or continue with the peace. If people want peace, they have to vote for BJP,” Madhav said.
He was addressing BJP workers at the residence of Aijaz Hussain, the party’s candidate for Srinagar’s Lal Chowk seat.
Madhav criticised the election manifestos of NC and PDP, which include promises to restore Article 370 and engage in talks with Pakistan to “resolve the Kashmir issue”. He said these proposals aim to return J&K to its “old, trouble-filled days”.
