The Indian National Congress today accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of seeking to extend the Lieutenant Governor’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) to obstruct the newly elected government following the Assembly elections.
At a press conference, Congress leader and All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge for J&K, Bharatsinh Madhavsinh Solanki, criticized the BJP for allegedly perpetuating what he termed as an “exploitative rule” and accused them of failing to restore statehood to J&K despite directives from the Supreme Court.
“Similar to the British era, the BJP is employing a divide-and-rule strategy. Under the LG’s rule, they have only ensured the exploitation of J&K’s resources,” Solanki claimed. He argued that if the BJP had genuine intentions, they would have restored statehood by now, but instead, they chose to maintain the LG’s extraordinary powers to retain control and suppress any newly formed government.
Solanki further criticized the BJP for what he described as “hollow promises” and alleged that the party instills fear to prevent public dissent. “They are creating divisions between Kashmir and Jammu, but we are committed to ensuring unity and fostering peace and progress,” he said.
On the topic of the alliance with the National Conference, Solanki stated that it was formed after careful deliberation and emphasized that Rahul Gandhi’s visit was motivated by a desire to resolve public issues rather than pursue power. He accused the BJP of failing to address the hardships faced by the people of Kashmir and criticized the party’s handling of terrorism and inflation.
“The BJP has had direct control yet has failed to eradicate terrorism in J&K. Even during the Prime Minister’s recent visit, two soldiers were martyred. They have not been successful in ending terrorism,” Solanki stated. He also criticized the BJP’s management of inflation, alleging that it benefits the wealthy, particularly Adani, while ordinary people suffer.
Solanki accused the BJP of using new projects in J&K, announced just before elections, as a means to earn commissions and benefit outsiders, while failing to deliver tangible benefits to local residents. He highlighted issues with privatized power distribution, leading to inflated bills, and criticized the BJP for its silence on smart meter installations, which were opposed in Gujarat but are being implemented in J&K.
Solanki assured that the Congress would protect reservation rights and accused the RSS of attempting to undermine the reservation system and the Constitution.
In Baramulla, senior Congress leaders Pawan Khera and Salman Soz also addressed the media, discussing the party’s manifesto and the current state of J&K. Khera described Kashmir as a “graveyard of hopes” and reiterated that the Congress manifesto aligns with the aspirations of the J&K people. He expressed confidence that Congress and its allies are capable of challenging the BJP and accused other political actors of working to bring the BJP to power through indirect means.
Khera labeled the BJP as “enemies of brotherhood,” asserting that their actions have damaged J&K’s identity. He concluded by stating that a “new dawn for the people” can only be achieved through the INDIA bloc, asserting that “Kashmir has become the graveyard of hopes.”
