Rahul Gandhi Prioritizes Restoring J&K Statehood Ahead of Assembly Polls

Rahul Gandhi emphasized the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood as a top priority for Congress and the INDIA bloc. He pledged to return democratic rights to the people of J&K and Ladakh, expressing a deep bond with the region. Assembly elections are scheduled in three phases in September.

In a press conference on Thursday, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, reiterated that restoring the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir is a primary objective for Congress and the INDIA bloc. He emphasized the importance of returning democratic rights to the people of J&K and Ladakh.

Gandhi noted that Congress had hoped statehood restoration would occur before the upcoming elections, but is optimistic about progress now that elections have been announced. The assembly elections are set to be held in three phases across September.

Over his visit, Gandhi highlighted his strong connection with the region and assured continuous support to the people of J&K. He criticized the downgrade of J&K from a state to a Union Territory, accentuating that it was the first such instance in India since Independence.

(With inputs from agencies.)