Srinagar, Jan 29, KDC: Congress leader and Member of Parliament Rahul Gandhi on Sunday alleged that the government denying that China has taken our land is “dangerous” and the government’s denial would give the foreign powers confidence to do more aggressive things.
Addressing a press conference in Taj Vivanta Hotel in Srinagar, Rahul Gandhi, according to Srinagar based news agency Kashmir Dot Com said “I’ve learnt a lot, met lakhs of people, spoke to them. I don’t have words to describe it. The goal of the Yatra was to unite India.”
“It was against hate and violence, this has been the deepest and most beautiful experience of my life” Gandhi said as Bharat jodo yatra ends.
Gandhi, who was flanked by General Secretary Incharge Communication, Jairam Ramesh, Incharge J&K Rajni Patil, JKPCC president, Vikar Rasool Wani, former PCC president Ghulam Ahmad Mir, former MP Tariq Hameed Karra, PCC working president Raman Bhalla, former deputy chief minister Tara Chand and others, said the motive behind the Yatra was to spread love amid hatred being spread by BJP and RSS across the country.
He said that J&K’s statehood should be restored and an appropriate solution should be found in Ladakh. People of Ladakh aren’t happy with what has happened, Gandhi said, adding that I came to J & K with an open heart and open arms to help in whatever way I can and I was humbled by the reception we got in Jammu and Kashmir. Rahul Gandhi said people are in pain in the state of J&K and the Congress is of the view that restoration of statehood and democratic process is the first step.
“Had security situations improved in the Valley, targeted killings wouldn’t have happened, if the situation is that good why doesn’t Amit shah walk from Jammu to Kashmir Gandhi questioned.”
On the China issue, Rahul Gandhi said I have met some ex-army people and the people of Ladakh have said 2000sq km has been taken away our land and the Prime Minister of India is the only person in the country, who’s under the impression that the Chinese have not taken any land from India.
There is a gap between BJP and common people. Most interaction happens only through the media. My idea was to bridge that gap Gandhi said adding that there is media bias towards opposition they don’t give the due coverage.
Gandhi at the end thanked all the people across the country, media and the Yatris, CRPF, police and others who extended their support.
The Kanyakumari to Kashmir yatra started from the southern tip of the country on September 7 and ended on Sunday in Srinagar, after covering 3,970 km, 12 states, and two Union territories in around 145 days.
Sources informed to news agency Kashmir Dot Com that 12 opposition parties will attend the concluding function of Bharat Jodo Yatra on Monday. 21 parties were invited for the function, but some are not attending due to some ‘concerns’, they said.
Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party, and TDP are among the parties to skip the function, however, MK Stalin-led Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Sharad Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Tejashwi Yadav-led Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United), Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena, CPI(M), CPI, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Kerala Congress, Farooq Abdullah-led Jammu & Kashmir National Conference, Mehbooba Mufti’s Jammu and Kashmir People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and Shibu Soren’s Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) will attend the main function being held tomorrow at SK Stadium Srinagar. (KDC)
