Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Monday attacked the BJP and it’s ideological mother, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), for allegedly spreading hate and violence in Jammu and Kashmir and other states of India.
Addressing a rally in Surankote in Poonch district of the state, the Congress leader said,”BJP-RSS only spread hate and violence in J&K and other states…All they know is to spread hate and their politics is of hatred. You all know that hatred cannot be eliminated by giving hate but by love.”
Slamming the saffron party for snatching Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, Rahul said it was a first instance in the history of the country that a state was made a Union Territory.
“There have been several instances where a union territory was made a state. Many times states have been divided into two parts….But this happened for the first time in history, when the rights of Jammu and Kashmir were snatched away by making the State a Union Territory. Therefore, we want statehood to be returned to Jammu and Kashmir. We will put pressure on the government for this and if they don’t do it, we will get it done,” he asserted.
The LoP further reiterated Congress party’s promise to push the Centre for the region’s statehood. “We wanted it (restoration of statehood) to happen before the polls…. However, after the elections, we will pressurise the government to ensure the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir is restored,” he added.
Rahul asserted that a stronger Opposition has hit the confidence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and that, he is no longer the leader he used be.
“Today whatever the opposition wants to get done, that happens. Modi government brings laws, we stand up against them, then they take a U-turn. Narendra Modi’s confidence has ended. Narendra Modi is no longer the same as he was before,” he remarked.