Srinagar 22nd August 2024: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi arrived in Jammu and Kashmir on a two-day visit ahead of the Assembly elections. Rahul Gandhi addressed workers in Srinagar on Thursday.
Rahul Gandhi said, “As soon as we came to know that elections are going to be held, Mallikarjun Kharge and I met and decided that we should come to Jammu and Kashmir first. We want to convey to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the people of every state in India that representing the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the state’s status is the most important thing for us.”
He further said that in the history of India, after independence, many Union Territories have been converted into states, but there is only one example where a state’s status has been withdrawn and made a Union Territory. “We want to convey that representing the people of Jammu and Kashmir is important for us and the people of the country, that’s why we have come here first.”
Rahul Gandhi also mentioned the Lok Sabha election results, saying that the India Alliance has broken Narendra Modi’s self-confidence. “The ideology of Congress and India, love and unity, has broken Narendra Modi’s self-confidence.”
Rahul Gandhi said, “I protect democracy throughout the country, but my goal is to erase the pain in the hearts of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Whatever you tolerate, the fear in which you live, the suffering you face, I, Mallikarjun Kharge, and the entire Congress party want to erase it forever. We will defeat hatred with love.”
He said that the BJP always decides where to start the election, how to bring people, and their entire anger is on the Congress, not on other parties because other parties do not fight. “There is only one brave person who fights, and that is Rahul Gandhi. So don’t side with the fearful. We, our party, are with you and will remain with you. We don’t just need your vote for votes, but we need your vote to save this country.”