Rahul Gandhi Jammu Rally: Speaking in the spirit of a campaigning election rally held in Jammu, Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress MP, voiced strong reservations on Jammu and Kashmir remaining a Union Territory (UT) and the gross economic implications that befell the region. Addressing a mammoth gathering at the JK Resort Ground, Rahul Gandhi said statehood to a Union Territory poses a huge injustice to people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Rahul Gandhi’s Call for Restoration of Rights
Referring to the not-so-distant history of India, as several Union Territories (UTs) have been promoted as states, Rahul Gandhi said for the first time, a state has been demoted to a Union Territory. This has deprived the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir of all democratic rights. According to her, these rights must be restored in the state that has been downgraded to a Union Territory.
He further explained his criticism of the existing governance system with a specific focus on how the economic effects it has on such a political change, more particularly the local sectors. He says that there is a shift in the composition of the apple trade, an industry which, over the years, always remained a jewel in that particular state, while regretting that “the whole apple industry is now into Adani’s hands,” and Himachal Pradesh apples would be next in line.
This statement is part of a larger observation he made concerning the monopolization of nearly every sector by big corporations in the country that he could illustrate by stating that “Adani tax” and “Ambani tax” were being charged on daily activities, ranging from usage at airports to mobile phone services.
Rallying for Change Ahead of Assembly Elections
This rally was Rahul Gandhi’s third visit to Jammu and Kashmir within a three-week period, after the visits to Banihal, Dooru, Surankote, and Central-Shalteng forming part of his campaign before the assembly elections. On this visit, he also met with local professionals and assured the people that the Congress party would work for the betterment of people in Jammu and Kashmir.
With assembly elections due soon, Rahul Gandhi’s words ring a bell for the people now which want democratic rights back and local economic autonomy back, in the process making the Congress party look almost like an alternative to the present government’s policies.