‘I am your representatives in Delhi’
Srinagar: Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said that the representation of the people of J&K and giving back the statehood is most important for the Congress.
“As soon as we (Congress) got to know that elections are going to be held we decided to come here because we want to give a message to the people of every state that for us the representation of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and their statehood is the most important thing,” said Rahul Gandhi while addressing party workers in Srinagar.
He said that in the history of India, after independence, many union territories have become states however there is only one example (J&K) when statehood was taken away and a union territory was created.
“This has never happened before and we want to give this message that the representation of the people of Jammu and Kashmir is important, it is important for us and it is important for the country,” the LoP said.
Addressing the workers, the LoP said that each one of them is a member of the Congress family. “You are not workers, you are family,” the LoP said.
Tariq Hamid Karra, President of J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC), Vikar Rasool Wani, former president of JKPCC, G.A. Mir, member of Congress working committee, senior J&K Congress leaders, Peerzada Sayeed, Tara Chand, Raman Bhalla and others were present during the meeting.
Former JKPCC President, Vikar Rasool told the workers that in the past two years, Congress faced a big storm as the party’s 70 per cent structure was dismantled, but he along with his team worked hard to restructure the party again and today JKPCC is a strong and vibrant force.
“I as a disciplined soldier of the party along with my team worked hard to restructure the party and today the result is before you,” he said adding that he was ready to shoulder any responsibility in the party.
“If AICC leadership would assign me the charge of a ‘Chaprasi’ (peon), I would accept the post with great honour and pride,” he said.
Former J&K Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand said in the past 10 years, J&K lost its identity and special status.
“Today, I want to say that Rahulji is playing Indiraji. Late Indiraji would give a personal touch to the party and people of J&K whenever there were clouds of uncertainty. Rahulji has come with the same ideology and thinking,” Chand said.
Former JKPCC President and AICC member Ghulam Ahmed Mir said that it is a great pleasure to see AICC chief and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi in J&K.
“Your visit is a real morale booster for all the workers of JKPCC. You have come at a time when the poll bugle has already been sounded. This will give a new impetus to the party indeed,” Mir said.
On Wednesday, Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and K.C. Venugopal arrived on a two-day visit to J&K.
Rahul Gandhi is also meeting the National Conference (NC) President Dr Farooq Abdullah to finalise the seat-sharing arrangement between the NC and the Congress for the upcoming Assembly elections.
Meanwhile in Jammu, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday tried to strike an emotional chord with the people of Jammu and Kashmir stating that his family belongs to J & K and he considers himself as the representative of J&K people in New Delhi. He quickly added that his doors were always open for party workers.
“You know my relationship with you. It is not a political connection. It is a relationship of love and that of my family’s background. My family comes from your state,” he said addressing workers in Jammu, adding, “So, you should always feel that you have a sepoy in Delhi. I am your sepoy. Whatever you need, my doors are always open for you. You only have to give me an order, and I will be present before you.”
He was addressing Congress party’s workers meeting in Jammu on the second leg of his 2-day long Jammu and Kashmir visit.
Stating that Congress wanted statehood for Jammu and Kashmir before polls but ‘arrogant’ BJP denied.
Rahul further said that elections are going to be held in four states but they decided to visit J&K first, not for polls but to give a message to people of Jammu and Kashmir and country that after Independence J&K was the only state that was downgraded to Union Territory. He said in the history of country, India promotes representations to people by upgrading states like Uttarakhand, Jharkhand and Telengana but J&K was divided and downgraded.
“Jammu has its own culture and history. This is the land of Mata Vaishno Devi. The party wants that we should protect everyone’s culture and history in the country and you should have a voice in your government,” he said, adding that “BJP wants to run the entire country from Nagpur, whereas Congress’ idea is to de-centralize. We want your voice in Assembly and Lok Sabha, that is why we want statehood”.
