Cong ready for elections in J&K; alliance to win all LS seats: Solanki

Jammu, Jan 5: Former union minister and newly appointed in-charge of Jammu and Kashmir affairs Bharat Sinh Solanki Friday stated Congress was ready for both parliamentary and assembly elections in J&K.

He also asserted that the I.N.D.I Alliance would win all the six parliamentary seats in J&K, including one in Ladakh.

He was responding to media queries after addressing a party workers meet held here at Patta Bohri. This was Solanki’s maiden visit to J&K after he was made in-charge J&K Affairs.

With regard to allotment of seats, he stated that it would be decided by the party high command as per the decisions taken during the meeting of (I.N.D.I. bloc) committee, formed for the purpose.

When asked if Congress would insist for restoration of statehood before assembly elections in J&K, Solanki said that the party was prepared for both elections as and when they would be held. “However, as per SC directions, the elections are to be conducted before September 30. By then, these issues too will be decided. J&K, with 5 LS and 90 assembly seats, is very important for us in terms of strategic importance and for promoting secularism,” he said.

Lauding the people of J&K, Solanki said that they wanted development, investment and employment.

Earlier rousing reception was accorded by party workers and leaders gathered at Jammu airport to Solanki and AICC general secretary G A Mir on their arrival.

Later, they addressed a party meeting along with JKPCC president Vikar Rasool Wani and other top leaders.

While addressing the rally, Solanki made it clear that in the coming days, Congress would enter the field with great determination and it would move forward taking every grassroots worker into confidence. Tariq Karra, CWC member and AICC joint secretary Manoj Yadav were also present there.

Solanki alleged that the country was not in safe hands and the end of the politics of dividing people in the name of caste and religion was near. Taking on BJP, he said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir were feeling cheated. Reacting to the abrogation of Article 370, he said that BJP's politics of regions divided the mutual brotherhood of Jammu and Kashmir. Solanki claimed, “Today the people of Jammu have been deprived of their rights.” He also criticised the party for unemployment, corruption, inflation and increasing drug addiction, the skyrocketing fares in the name of smart meters, anti-encroachment campaigns and ‘illegal toll plazas’.

Emphasizing on mutual coordination and harmony, Solanki said that today the entire country was considering the I.N.D.I Alliance as the only hope.

JKPCC chief Vikar in his address, alleged that BJP was avoiding elections because it feared defeat.

Mir said, “Now the time has come that Congress, which has been playing the role of a strong opposition, should come to the central stage and the people can be saved from their present miseries.” Party's working president Raman Bhalla and former minister and ex Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, Mula Ram, Balwan Singh, Yogesh Sahni, Manmohan Singh also addressed the gathering.