No bigger issue than statehood of J&K: Rahul Gandhi amid Bharat Jodo Yatra

There is no bigger issue that statehood of Jammu and Kashmir, Rahul Gandhi said on Monday amid the Congress’s Bharat Jodo Yatra which is in its final phase. Gandhi’s remarks come as J&K is gearing up to hold elections soon for the first time after Article 370 was scrapped in 2019 by the central government. The Congress leader was also seen having a meeting with Kashmiri Pandits over a meal in a video shared by the party. The opposition parties have been repeatedly targeting the BJP over the issue of statehood of J&K. Leaders of the ruling party have said that the issue will be considered.

“A delegation of Kashmiri Pandits met me today. I was shocked by what they told me. They said that Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha told them they should not beg. This is appalling. I want to tell the LG that he should apologise to these people,” Gandhi can be heard saying at a gathering on Monday. Giving more details on this, the grand old party’s communication in-charge Jairam Ramesh tweeted: “Today, Rahul Gandhi met a delegation of Kashmiri Pandits; the following was discussed -They haven’t received any salary from the state government for almost 6 months because they have been protesting the targeted killings of Kashmiri Pandits (sic)”

“Rahul Gandhi asked them to prepare a three point memorandum. He will be writing a letter to PM Modi today and will also raise the issue in Parliament. He has promised to send a high powered delegation from the Congress party to the Valley on the matter of Kashmiri Pandits,” another tweet read.

Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra is being held amid tight security after two explosions were reported last week in the Narwal area of Jammu. The administration has said all proper arrangements have been ensured.