Jammu and Kashmir Statehood: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said that if the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government does not restore the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir after the assembly elections, the 'India' alliance will use its full strength inside Parliament and also take to the streets. Addressing a rally in support of party candidates in Jammu, the former Congress president said that a great injustice was done to the people of the state by dividing the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state into two union territories in 2019.

This is Rahul's third visit to Jammu and Kashmir in about the last three weeks. He visited Banihal and Dooru constituencies on September 4 ahead of the first phase of assembly elections on September 18. He visited Surankot and Central-Shalteng on September 23 ahead of the second phase of polling today.

Soon after reaching Jammu on Wednesday, Rahul interacted with professionals at a hotel and then left for JK Resort Ground to address a public meeting. "This should never have happened and I guarantee you that if the BJP does not restore statehood (after the elections), we - the 'India' alliance, will use all our strength in Lok Sabha, and Rajya Sabha and even take to the streets to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir," he said at the rally.

'Jammu Kashmir was stripped of its statehood to benefit 'outsiders''

He alleged that the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir was taken away to benefit 'outsiders' through the Lieutenant Governor. Rahul said, ‘As long as the Lieutenant Governor is there, outsiders will benefit and the local people will continue to be ignored. This is the reason why the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir was taken away. They want Jammu and Kashmir to be run by outsiders and not local people.’

Restoration of statehood is 'your right and your future'

He told the gathering that restoration of statehood was "your right and your future" and Jammu and Kashmir could not progress without it. The senior Congress leader said there was a systematic attack on small and medium industries in the rest of the country as well. "This government works for Ambani and Adani. Weapons like GST and demonetization were used to make way for them," he said.

He also criticized the 'Make in India' initiative, calling it the 'Make in Adani' program

He also criticized the government's 'Make in India' initiative, calling it the 'Make in Adani' program, and claimed that under this policy all contracts were being given to business conglomerate Adani. Rahul accused the BJP government and the governor of breaking the backbone of Jammu which was the main hub of Jammu and Kashmir and was facilitating the smooth flow of the production chain from the valley to the rest of the country.