Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi held two rallies in Jammu and Kashmir on September 25, where the second phase of the assembly elections is ongoing. During a speech in Jammu, Gandhi made a verbal slip, initially referring to refugees from PoK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir) instead of Kashmiri Pandits. He quickly corrected himself, attributing the promise made by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the Kashmiri Pandits.
This gaffe did not go unnoticed. BJP leader Amit Malviya seized the moment to criticize Gandhi, suggesting he could not distinguish between PoK refugees and Kashmiri Pandits. Malviya pointed out that this confusion added to what he described as the “mess in Kashmir” inherited from Jawaharlal Nehru’s legacy.
Andhra Pradesh BJP leader Vishnu Vardhan Reddy also reacted, implying that Gandhi inadvertently revealed a deeper truth. He further accused Gandhi of portraying the Indian government as an outsider to the people of J&K, a stance which he found contradictory given Congress’s historical advocacy for talks with Pakistan regarding Kashmir.
In his speeches, Gandhi repeatedly emphasized the need to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, which was converted into a Union Territory in 2019. He argued that this move stripped the region of its democratic rights. Gandhi pledged that the INDIA bloc, if it comes to power, would push for the return of statehood to J&K in Parliament and ensure democratic rights are reinstated. He also criticized the BJP for spreading an ideology of hatred across the country.
Gandhi’s rally in Sopore echoed these sentiments, stressing that the restoration of statehood would be a priority for the INDIA alliance. He assured the public that this issue would be addressed promptly if the coalition forms the government at the Centre.
Original Story https://www.news18.com/politics/rahul-gandhis-slip-of-tongue-at-j-says-pok-refugees-then-quickly-changes-to-kashmiri-pandits-9063139.html
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