"Your democratic rights being taken away..." Rahul Gandhi pushes for restoration of Article 370 ahead of J-K polls

Poonch (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], September 23 (ANI): Emphasizing the need for restoring Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi on Monday said that it is the foremost demand of the National- Conference and the Congress to bring back statehood.
Congress leader and LoP in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi in his addressing in Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir said, "It is for the first time in Indian history that it has been made a state. Your democratic rights have been taken away from you. That is why it is our foremost demand that statehood returns."
Addressing the audience, Gandhi said, "You don't have a say in running your government. The orders are followed from Delhi. We wanted the statehood to return here before the elections, but we will definitely try that it does after the polls".

Accusing the BJP of practising "politics of hate" across various States, Rahul said, "BJP-RSS only spread hate and violence in J&K and other states. Be it Jammu-Kashmir, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh or Manipur. All they know is to spread hate and their politics is of hatred. You all know that hatred cannot be eliminated by giving hate but by love".
Hitting back at the BJP for accusing the National Conference of depriving the local community of Gujjars and Pahadis of development in the union territory, Rahul said that the BJP is yet again applying the "divide and rule" policy and trying to create rift between brothers.

After the Congress party announced its alliance with NC, Union Minister Amit Shah questioned Rahul Gandhi if he supports the NC's manifesto, "which calls for abolishing reservations for Dalits, Gujjars, Bakerwals, and Pahadis."
"They always try to divide and rule and have applied the same tactics here in Jammu-Kashmir. They tried to create a rift between the Gujjars and the Pahadi community here. I guarantee you that this project of them is going to fail," Rahul Gandhi said.

Highlighting the unity between the alliance partners, the National Conference, and the Congress party, Rahul Gandhi urged his party leaders to support National Conference candidates in the upcoming elections.

"I appeal the Congress party candidates to offer full support to National conference candidates," Rahul said.

The Congress and the National Conference are fighting the polls in alliance. The PDP, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and People's Conference, to name a few, are other parties in the fray for 90 Assembly seats.

This is the first election in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370. Leaders have held hectic campaigns to boost the prospects of their party candidates. Voting for the second and third phases in J-K will be held on September 25 and October 1, respectively. Votes will be counted on October 8. (ANI)