Jammu and Kashmir: 'We demand restoration of full statehood,' says Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi is on a two-day tour to the Union Territory and was in Srinagar to inaugurate the new party office there.

Srinagar: Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi while inaugurating party headquarter office on Tuesday (August 10) in Srinagar addressed a gathering of party workers. 

Rahul Gandhi said “I may not have lived here but I understand you people. My forefathers must have had water from Jhelum and your customs and culture are with me too. I feel I am coming home when I come to Kashmir. What you can achieve with love cannot be achieved by Hate."

"My family used to live in Allahabad and before that, they used to live here. I have not been here much but I understand you a little bit. I have a bit of Kashmiriyat inside me as well," said Gandhi.

He further stated that the strength of the J-K people is brotherhood and their way of living and that anybody spreading hatred will never be accepted by the people here."Ghulam Nabi Azad ji asked me to raise the issue of Kashmir in Parliament. But I want to tell that we are not allowed to speak there. There are many issues like Pegasus, corruption, and unemployment that I want to raise. But we are not given a chance to speak," said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

"Today, it is not only J-K but every institution of the country like the judiciary, Rajya Sabha, and Lok Sabha that is being attacked. The media is being threatened and they are scared of portraying the truth. The process to improve J-K that had begun in Congress regime has been hurt badly," he added.

Gandhi further stated that he supports the restoration of full statehood and free and fair elections in J-K and his office in Srinagar will be a new beginning for the party in the Union Territory."I will fight against Narendra Modi and his ideology of violence and dividing India. I will fight against hatred and fear. Congress is a party that spreads love and peace. I will soon visit Jammu and Ladakh as well," he further said.