I will be the spokesperson of Parl Johnson & Johnson employees: Rahul

Rahul today addressed a massive rally in support of DRC-NC alliance candidate Shahnawaz Choudhary at Surankote in Poonch district and later in Sharten in central Srinagar Addressing regional party candidate and JKPCC president Tariq Hameed Karra, Rahul vowed that the Congress-INDI alliance will put pressure on the central government to restore J&K after the assembly elections are completed national status.

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Gandhi said that Jammu and Kashmir is the first state in Indian history to be divided into two Union Territories of Ladakh and J&K. Unlike other regions where new states were created from the largest state, J&K was downgraded and its people were stripped of their democratic rights.
“This is the first time that a state has been downgraded to a Union Territory. Your autonomy has been taken away,” he declared, stressing that restoration of statehood remained the top priority of the Congress party.
Rahul reiterated his commitment to the people of J&K and promised to represent their voice in the federal parliament.
“Whenever you need me, just call and I’ll be there. I’ll make sure your concerns are heard by council,” he told the meeting, highlighting his longstanding ties to the region.
Opposition leaders have accused the BJP-led central government of ruling J&K in Delhi with decisions being taken by non-locals.
He also claimed that the downgrading of the state to a Union Territory was mainly aimed at benefiting a few powerful industrialists, claiming that the government was prioritizing the interests of a few over the common people.
Gandhi said J&K was not only reduced from a state to a Union Territory but also came under “direct rule by outsiders”. “The deputy governor is Raja and he is doing things against the will of the people here. He doesn’t know how to work,” he said.
He criticized the BJP government for taking away local decision-making powers, saying local MLAs used to be responsible for key decisions in colleges and universities, but now “outsiders” are running the affairs of the region under the leadership of the lieutenant governor.
“We want the people of Jammu and Kashmir to choose their own government and take their own decisions,” he added.
“The fate of J&K is now decided by outsiders,” he said, citing the loss of autonomy in governance.
He further criticized the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh for sowing division along religious, caste and regional lines. To address the issue, Gandhi said Congress was promoting unity and harmony and opened ‘Mohabbat Ki Dukkan’ at Nafrat Kay Bazaar Main
Talking about the economic challenges facing the country, Gandhi lambasted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s policies, particularly demonetization and the introduction of a flawed goods and services tax, which he said had weakened small and medium enterprises.
He accused the Modi government of waiving loans worth Rs 1,600 crore for a few selected businessmen while ignoring the needs of farmers, workers and unemployed educated youth.
Gandhi expressed disappointment over the closure of major industries, including the HMT watch factory in J&K, and said it showed the government’s failure to provide employment opportunities. He pointed out that despite having high academic qualifications, young people in J&K are finding it difficult to find jobs, a situation he directly attributed to the Modi government’s economic mismanagement. “This is Modi’s gift to young people who have degrees but no jobs,” Gandhi asserted.
Gandhi, who mocked Modi’s popular radio program “Mann Ki Baat”, said that while the prime minister loved to harangue, he failed to address the real problems facing the country. “Modi only talks about his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ but what people need is ‘Kaam Ki Baat’ – employment opportunities for youth and restoration of statehood in J&K,” Gandhi added.
With assembly elections in J&K underway, Rahul Gandhi has promised that if the BJP does not restore statehood after the polls, the Congress-Indian Independent Party alliance will ensure this happens. He assured the people of J&K that their demand for statehood would not be ignored and promised to continue efforts to safeguard their democratic rights.
Earlier, while addressing the rally, NC President Dr Farooq Abdullah said that NC Congress is united in its efforts to change the destiny of Jammu and Kashmir and end the 10-year tyranny of the BJP. “We must unite to thwart their plots and confront the hatred they spread,” Abdullah said.
He said that the alliance between North Carolina and Congress is going well and “we are confident that we can get a majority to form the next government of Johnson & Johnson.”
Abdullah said the BJP talks a lot about Article 370, but in fact, they are “humiliating” Maharaja Hari Singh. Hari Singh, the last Dogra ruler, introduced the Land Law in Jammu and Kashmir in 1927, which later became part of Article 370 after independence.
“Those who celebrated the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 by distributing sweets have ruined the decision today as they are losing their land and their children cannot find jobs. Abdullah claimed that there are no local officials in the civil secretariat , as outsiders were given top jobs.
Talking about the BJP’s clear statement that Article 370 has become a thing of the past and no one will restore it, Abdullah said that they will knock on the doors of the Supreme Court until the constitutional provision is restored in the Union Territories.
The former chief minister said the “frequent” terror attacks, especially in the peaceful Jammu region, were at odds with the BJP-led government’s claims of an “end” to terrorism with the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. Contradictory.
Farooq said the BJP blamed them and Article 370 for terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, but incidents of terror, especially in Jammu region, contradicted their claims. “I want to ask them that it has been five years since Article 370 was abrogated but terror incidents are still killing people,” he said.
AICC in-charge Jammu and Kashmir Bharatsinh Solanki, AICC co-in-charge Manoj Yadav, Congress candidate for Surankote assembly segment Shahnawaz Choudhary, JKPCC senior vice president and chief spokesperson of the party, Ravinder Sharma, Congress candidate for Thannamandi assembly segment Shabir Khan, Congress candidate for Rajouri seat from Tannamandi assembly segment Iftikhar Ahmed also addressed the Surankot rally.
AICC general secretary and former J&K State Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Ghulam Ahmed Mir, while addressing a rally at Zainakote in central Shalteng, said the NC-Congress alliance should J&K won 65 seats. Mir highlighted the importance of the ongoing phased assembly elections in J&K.
“North Carolina’s alliance with Congress should gain 60-65 seats, allowing us to demand restoration of statehood and land and employment rights,” he said.
“This is not just any other election; this is an election.” The bigger question is whether we want the BJP to flourish in J&K or kill it. That’s a decision you have to make on polling day,” he added.
Mir said the first priority of the coalition government is to pass a resolution to restore the rights of the people of J&K.
“When the first Parliament convenes, the first priority will be to pass a resolution calling for the restoration of statehood and restoration of rights to land and employment. Your vote will avenge the injustice suffered by the people,” he said.
JKPCC Chairman Tariq Hameed Karra, former JKPCC Chairman Peerzada Mohd Syed and Senior Vice Chairman Ghulam Nabi Monga also spoke on the occasion.