Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said that restoration of statehood of Jammu and Kashmir is a priority for both the Congress Party and the INDIA Block. The former Congress president also highlighted the party’s aim to ensure that people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh get their democratic rights back.
“Our priority as well as that of the INDIA bloc is to restore statehood in JK at the earliest. Though we had anticipated that this might happen before the elections, the declaration of elections is a positive step. We are hopeful that statehood and democratic rights of the people of JK will be restored soon,” Gandhi said during a press conference after a meeting with party workers.
He said that it is unprecedented since Independence for a state to be downgraded to a Union Territory (UT).
“This development is unprecedented. While Union Territories have been elevated to the status of states, this is the first instance where a state is being reduced to a Union Territory. Our national manifesto clearly states our commitment to restore the democratic rights of the people of JK and Ladakh,” he added.
Gandhi, along with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, on Thursday met Congress leaders and workers to seek inputs on grassroots preparations for the upcoming assembly elections.
The assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir are scheduled to be held in three phases – September 18, September 25 and October 1 – with the counting of votes scheduled for October 4.
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