Farmers Movement Archive

BJP, RSS weakening, breaking J&K's composite culture: Rahul Gandhi

JAMMU: Calling for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused BJP and RSS on Friday of "breaking the composite culture" of the erstwhile state and that this made him "sad". Gandhi, addressing Congress flag-waving party workers on his second visit to Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370, said he would "also go to Ladakh in the coming days". "I am happy to come to this pradesh (state) as I feel at home here as my family has a long relationship with this state, which now is a Union Territory… I will speak later on this…" He said BJP and RSS efforts to destroy the copyist culture of J&K "makes you weak". "Earlier there was a flourishing trade, economy and tourism, which now have declined, making you weak," he added. He recalled his visit to temples in the state. Rahul said the goddess Durga is the power that protects (durg, or fortress), the goddess Laxmi has power to achieve aims and the goddess Saraswati is the power of knowledge. "And when these three deities are in a house or in a nation, they flourish." Targeting BJP, Gandhi alleged that the policies of the BJP-led central government, including the introduction of demonetisation and GST, decreased the power of Goddess Laxmi in the country. On farmer issues, he asked, "Joh kisano ke naye kanoon aa rahe hain unme Durga Mata ki shakti badhi ki ghati (Have the new farm laws increased or decreased the strength of the nation)?" "When a person from RSS or BJP is appointed in all educational institutions, then the power of Goddess Saraswati decreases," Rahul said. When he asked whether the power of Ma Saraswato increased r decreased when someone from BJP or RSS was appointed as the head of an educational institution, the crowd replied "Ghati (it decreases)". Referring to the bifurcation of J&K, he said, "What did they (BJP) do with you ( people of J&K)? First, they invaded your composite culture... then attacked your harmony and weakened you.. and then snatched your statehood." He said the people of J&K must ask BJP why they have destroyed its economy. BJP is creating fear among people, he said, adding, "Congress pyaar hai jabki BJP dar hai (Congress is love, BJP is fear)." "I am a Kashmiri pandit and I will help Kashmiri pandits," he said. Exhorting party workers, the Congress leader said, "Congress workers are the real power and they must understand their power… Congress has the potential to cross 450 seats in the Lok Sabha." Earlier, senior Congress politician Ghulam Nabi Azad had criticised the government’s claims about J&K’s development. "The Darbar Move practice was scrapped and it has badly hit the economy of Jammu, unemployment has increased and the tourism sector is facing a huge setback. People are not getting basic amenities like water and electricity," Azad said.

The Times of India

2021-09-11

India