SRINAGAR: Senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi today took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for talking about “Mann Ki Baat” while forgetting the “Kaam Ki Baat,” stating that Jammu and Kashmir was not only downgraded to a Union Territory but “is now ruled by outsiders against the wishes of its people.”
Addressing a rally in the Central-Shalteng constituency of Srinagar, Rahul said that JK has not only been reduced to a Union Territory from being a State but is also ruled by “outsiders directly.” “The Lieutenant Governor is like a Raja who is working against the wishes of the people here. He doesn’t know how to work,” Rahul said.
He criticised PM Modi for talking big in his “Mann Ki Baat” but forgetting the “Kaam Ki Baat.” “Kaam Ki Baat means addressing unemployment and restoring statehood in JK,” Rahul said, adding that no one listens to PM Modi’s “Mann Ki Baat” anymore.
He said that before the Lok Sabha polls, Modi was touted as having a 56-inch chest. “Earlier, he would speak with his chest out, but the INDIA alliance has managed to break Modi’s psychology. Modi’s confidence is lost. He is not the Modi of earlier days,” Rahul said.
“I see him very closely in the Lok Sabha while people see him on TV. His mood has changed, and his face has changed. Credit goes to the INDIA alliance for this,” he said.
He accused BJP leaders of spreading hatred and pitting brother against brother. “They have spread hatred across the country. Hatred is not dealt with hatred but with love,” Rahul said.
From Kanyakumari to Kashmir, Rahul said he walked 4,000 km. “Wherever the BJP had opened shops of hatred, we closed them and opened shops of love. We will continue to do the same,” he said.
He pointed out that this is the first time that a state like JK was downgraded to a Union Territory. “We had seen Union Territories being converted into States. We want statehood to be restored as soon as possible so that J&K becomes a State again,” he said. “We wanted this to happen before elections, but the BJP didn’t.”
He said Congress would pressure the BJP to restore statehood after the polls. “If they don’t do it, I guarantee you that we will, as it is your democratic right,” said Rahul. —(KNO)