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| Rahul accuses BJP of sidelining J&K natives, empowering outsiders | | Promises statehood, regularization of daily wagers, free electricity to people living near power projects | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Sept 4: Congress stalwart and the Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi kick-started the campaign for Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir by vociferously raking up the highly sensitive issue of locals versus non-locals to paddle party’s narrative to corner the BJP.
“You are not only robbed of statehood but outsiders are also snatching your wealth”, Rahul Gandhi said while kickstarting the election campaign from the Sangaldan area of the Ramban which is part of the Banihal Assembly segment.
During his first public meeting, Rahul Gandhi made it a point to rake up local versus non-local issues to mobilize the party’s support in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Locals are not getting benefits of developmental activities as contracts have been given to the outsiders”, Rahul Gandhi said and added that only statehood has been snatched but the rights of the residents of J&K have also been snatched as outsiders are looting the wealth of the locals.
As some hydroelectric projects are situated in the Ramban district, Rahul Gandhi availed this opportunity to raise the issue of power tariff which has already become a big election issue.
Gandhi criticized the BJP's handling of power projects in J&K, citing the high electricity fees imposed on residents despite the majority of power projects being run in the region.
“You have first right on the power projects constructed in this area”, he said but regretted that locals we Key Allegations:
- Denial of statehood and treatment of locals as "second-class citizens"
- Monumental failures in governance, leading to economic stagnation and social crises
- High unemployment rates, particularly among young women
- Severe electricity shortages and rising cost of living
- Favoritism towards outsiders over local residents
- Widespread displacement and environmental degradation due to land allocation policies
- Rise in crime, drug abuse, and mental health issues
- Rampant corruption and cronyism, with allegations reaching the highest levels of administration
Statistics and Findings:
- 28.2% unemployment rate among 15-29 age group, nearly double the national average
- 48.6% unemployment rate among young women, the highest in India
- 65% of government department posts vacant since 2019
- 120% rise in LPG cylinder prices, 37% increase in petrol prices, and 109% surge in mustard oil costs
- 15% increase in crimes against women in 2021, with J&K having the second-highest rate among Union Territories
- 13.5 lakh drug users in Jammu and Kashmir, including 1.7 lakh children aged 10-17 years
- 41% of adult population in Kashmir suffers from probable depression, 26% from anxiety, and 19% from PTSD
The Congress party's charge sheet concludes with a call for urgent change in Jammu and Kashmir, demanding the restoration of democracy, an end to corruption, and the implementation of policies that truly benefit the people of the region.
“Locals will be given benefits of power projects and free power should be given to those living in the radius of five kilometers of the power project”, he demanded.
Pointing toward unemployment in the country, Rahul Gandhi assured that after formation of government in J&K all government vacancies would be filled and those working as daily wagers would be regularized. promises statehood to J&K after attaining power
Asserting that the National Conference-Congress alliance is going to form government in Jammu and Kashmir, Gandhi on Wednesday assured that statehood would be restored as early as after the formation of the new dispensation.
“It is for the first time in the history of modern India that a full-fledged state was downgraded into two Union Territories”, Rahul Gandhi said while kickstarting the election campaign for the party candidate Vikar Rasool Wani who is contesting election from the Banihal Assembly segment.
“The Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) block will build pressure on the BJP government at the Centre to restore Statehood to J&K”, he said, adding, “I have seen Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Arunachal Pradesh being converted into states but J&K is the first State that was bifurcated into two UTs—Ladakh and J&K”.
He alleged that the erstwhile state of J&K was downgraded into two UTs to give benefits to some big industrialists of the country. |
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