On Wednesday, Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, delivered a powerful message at a public rally in Jammu. He emphasized the urgent need to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
Gandhi declared that the INDIA bloc is ready to mobilize all its resources in Parliament. If the BJP-led government fails to act after the upcoming assembly elections, the alliance will take to the streets.
This rally marked Gandhi‘s third visit to Jammu and Kashmir in just under three weeks. His repeated trips clearly demonstrate his commitment to the region.
Earlier, he traveled to the Banihal and Dooru constituencies on September 4, just ahead of the first phase of assembly polls on September 18. Most recently, he visited Surankote and Central-Shalteng on September 23, only two days before the second phase of voting.
Upon arriving in Jammu, Gandhi began by meeting local professionals at a hotel. After that, he addressed a large crowd at the JK Resort Ground.
During his speech, he highlighted the injustice faced by the people of Jammu and Kashmir when the region split into two Union Territories in 2019. He remarked, “It has never happened in India’s history that statehood has been revoked and a state transformed into a Union Territory.“
Moreover, he assured the crowd, “If the BJP does not restore statehood after the elections, we—the INDIA alliance—will mobilize our full strength in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. We will take to the streets to advocate for the restoration of statehood to J-K.”
In his remarks, Gandhi argued that the revocation of statehood aimed to benefit “outsiders” through the Lieutenant Governor. He stated, “As long as the Lt Governor remains, outsiders will profit while locals are sidelined.”
Additionally, he stressed the importance of local governance, saying, “This is why statehood was revoked—they wanted Jammu and Kashmir to be governed by outsiders, not locals.”
Gandhi firmly asserted that restoring statehood is “your right and your future.” He insisted that Jammu and Kashmir cannot progress without it.
Furthermore, he pointed out broader issues affecting small and medium businesses across the country. He accused the current government of favoring large corporations like Ambani and Adani. “The GST and demonetization were tools used to clear the way for them,” he said, raising concerns about economic inequality.
In a sharp critique, Gandhi rebranded the government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative as the ‘Make in Adani’ program. He claimed that contracts under this policy primarily benefit the Adani Group.
In addition, he accused the BJP government and the Lieutenant Governor of undermining Jammu’s role as a central hub in the region. Their actions, he argued, have disrupted the production chain from the Valley to the rest of the country.
As the rally concluded, the message became clear: the fight for statehood and local governance in Jammu and Kashmir is far from over. Ultimately, the INDIA alliance stands ready to advocate for the rights of the people.
Kolkata: On Friday, January 10, 2026, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha members demonstrated against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her actions after the ED raids at the I-PAC office and its chief Pratik Jain's home. | In relation to an alleged coal smuggling case that stretches back a few years, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) searched the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) office and Pratik Jain's home on Loudon Street in Kolkata on Thursday, January 8, 2025. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a protest against the ED raids on I-PAC after the raid set off a political storm in the state. Why is a chief minister endorsing Pratik Jain, and who is he? Pratik Jain, a political strategist and co-founder of I-PAC, is a graduate of IIT Bombay. He is credited with helping I-PAC grow into one of the most significant political consulting organizations in India. I-PAC was established in 2015 and offers services like data-driven campaign management, support for governance, and voter outreach initiatives. It has collaborated with a number of Indian political groups throughout the years, notably West Bengal's Trinamool Congress (TMC). I-PAC reportedly collaborates closely with Abhishek Banerjee, the national general secretary of the Trinamool Congress, and his office. The company oversees the IT and media division of the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC and is in charge of creating its election campaigns. Mr. Jain was in charge of the Trinamool Congress's IT cell, according to Ms. Banerjee. According to his LinkedIn page, Jain, an engineering graduate from IIT Bombay, started his career as an analyst at the consulting firm Deloitte. He was one of the first members of Citizens of Accountable Governance, which later evolved into I-PAC. Arvind Kejriwal, M.K. Stalin, Jaganmohan Reddy, Uddhav Thackeray, Rahul Gandhi, and Nitish Kumar are just a few of the prominent figures with whom the political consultancy firm has collaborated.…
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