There are elections in Jammu and Kashmir and the politics on Article 370 is heated. Congress is facing the challenge of clarifying its stand. Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi arrived in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday to start the election campaign. He held two mega rallies there in Ramban and Anantnag districts. Rahul tried to connect himself with the people of Jammu and Kashmir and listed the problems there. He also talked about returning statehood if the Congress government is formed, but once again did not make any statement on the issue of Article 370. Even a week ago, when Rahul Gandhi had come to Jammu and Kashmir to take feedback from party leaders, he was seen in silent mode on the issue of Article 370. Whereas Congress’s ally National Conference has made it clear in its manifesto that if our government is formed, Article 370 and 35A will be restored.
BJP is continuously attacking the silence of Congress. BJP says that Congress should clarify its stand on Article 370 before going to the elections. Not only this, BJP has also described the alliance between Congress and National Conference in Jammu and Kashmir as against reservation and nationalism. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has also asked 10 questions to Congress regarding Jammu and Kashmir. Shah asked, does Rahul Gandhi and Congress party support the decision of National Conference to push Jammu and Kashmir back into the era of unrest and terrorism by bringing back Article 370 and Article 35A? Does Congress support the promise of ‘National Conference’ to have a ‘separate flag’ in Jammu and Kashmir again? Does Rahul Gandhi support the anti-reservation proposal that ends the reservation of Dalits, Gujjars, Bakarwals and Paharis mentioned in the manifesto of National Conference? After allying with National Conference, Congress party and Rahul Gandhi should clarify their reservation policy before the country.
Why is Rahul Gandhi silent on Article 370?
Political experts say that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is avoiding commenting directly on Article 370. Because this issue is a highly sensitive and controversial topic in the politics of Jammu and Kashmir and at the national level. The decision to remove Article 370 was taken by the Modi government in 2019 and it has been a major agenda of the BJP, there have been differences within the Congress party regarding this. There can be many reasons for this. This is the reason why keeping silent on Article 370 in the Jammu and Kashmir elections can be a well-thought-out political strategy of the Congress, which is being adopted keeping in mind the internal balance and external political strategy of the party. By commenting on Article 370, Rahul may also have to face attacks from the BJP. The BJP has always linked this issue to its nationalism agenda and has tried to term the Congress as ‘anti-national’. It is important for Rahul to protect the interests of the party by keeping silent on this matter.
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The party has been confused about the restoration of 370
Another fact is that the party has been confused on the question of restoration of Article 370, but it has been insisting on holding elections in Jammu and Kashmir soon and restoring the status of the state. When the Supreme Court approved Article 370 in December 2023, the Congress held an official press conference and said, the debate on the removal of the special status given to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 is now over because the Supreme Court’s decision is now law. However, the party had raised the demand for immediate restoration of the status of the state. Earlier in 2019, when Article 370 was removed, the stand of the Congress was different and the party strongly opposed this decision.
Do Rahul Gandhi and Congress want to avoid controversy?
Actually, there is no consensus in the Congress on Article 370. Many leaders talk about restoring it, while some leaders are silent about it. Rahul Gandhi and the party high command want to avoid any controversy within the party by taking a clear stand on this issue. Apart from this, the issue of Article 370 is not only constitutional but also related to national security. Any statement on this issue can create a political controversy and the Congress wants to be cautious about it and is not in the mood to suffer any loss. Since there are elections in Jammu and Kashmir after 10 years and the party has extended a hand of friendship with the National Conference, the organization is moving forward under a holistic strategy. Rahul and Congress want to focus on other problems of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Such as unemployment, development, education, and health care. These things have also become clear in his speech on Wednesday.
What has Rahul said in Jammu and Kashmir?
Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday started his party’s election campaign in Jammu and Kashmir. Rahul said that Jammu and Kashmir has been stripped of its statehood, but we will get it back. Rahul said, for the first time since 1947, a state has been stripped of its rights. It is the responsibility of every citizen, not just the Congress Party and the National Conference, to get Jammu and Kashmir back with statehood. Whatever the BJP-RSS may say, we are going to give the people of Jammu and Kashmir their statehood back. Rahul further said, not only your state has been snatched, your rights, your wealth is being snatched from you. In 1947, we removed the kings and formed a democratic government. Today, there is a king in Jammu and Kashmir. His name is LG. Here, LG is the king of the 21st century. He does whatever he wants. The people here neither get employment nor any other benefits. The government gives all this to outsiders.
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Rahul said, your wealth is being snatched and given to outsiders. Our first step will be to give statehood back to Jammu and Kashmir. Whether BJP wants it or not, India Alliance will put pressure. This will be our first step. We wanted statehood before the elections and then elections. BJP does not want this. It wants elections first. Rahul expressed confidence that his party’s coalition government is going to be formed next month. Rahul praised the beauty of Jammu and Kashmir and expressed his desire to spend a few days here after the elections.
Congress and National Conference have announced an alliance for the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. Out of 90 seats, National Conference will contest on 51 seats and Congress on 32 seats. There are five seats where there will be a friendly fight between the candidates of both the parties. Two seats have been won by CPI (M) and Panthers Party. Voting will be held here in three phases on 18 September, 25 September and 8 October. This is the first time that elections are being held after Jammu and Kashmir became a Union Territory and its special status was revoked in August 2019.
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)