INDIA bloc to hit the streets if statehood not restored: Rahul Gandhi

Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi, while addressing a rally in Jammu, said INDIA bloc will hit the streets if the BJP failed to restore the statehood after the Assembly elections.

“First of all, a state should not have been downgraded to a union territory (UT). I assure that if J&K’s statehood is not restored (after polls), we will put pressure on the government through both the houses of Parliament and also hit the streets, if need be,” said Rahul.

During the rally, Rahul also introduced the candidates who will contest the third and final phase of J&K Assembly elections on October 1.

Hitting out at Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, Rahul said: “As long as the LG is there, outsiders will benefit and the locals will be sidelined”.

This rally marked Rahul’s third visit to the region in nearly three weeks, following prior gatherings at Banihal and Dooru on September 4 and in Surankote and Central-Shalteng on September 23. His visit comes ahead of the crucial third phase of the Assembly elections.

He made a goof up by referring to migrant Kashmiri Pandits as refugees from Pakistan-occupied J&K (PoJK) and stated that all promises made to them by Manmohan Singh would be fulfilled after the formation of the National Conference-Congress government in J&K. He clarified the mistake immediately.

Rahul said: “The Modi Government has waived of loans worth ~16 lakh crore of people like Adani and Ambani. The government has not waived even a single penny of loans for farmers of J&K, small businessmen, youth who took education loans or the poor who were getting treatment in hospitals”.

While addressing a rally in North Kashmir’s Sopore, Rahul said if the NC-Congress alliance comes to power in J&K, it would promote famous Sopore apple in international markets.