Restoration of statehood Congress’ first agenda, priority: Kharge

Jammu, Sep 21: All India Congress Committee (AICC) President Mallikarjun Kharge Saturday stuck to Congress’ non-committal approach towards restoration of Article 370 - promised by the party’s alliance partner National Conference (NC) in its manifesto.

He reiterated that restoration of statehood to J&K was (Congress’) priority, “following it, other issues would be looked into.”

Confronting a direct query if Congress was in favour of the restoration of Article 370 or not as its August 6, 2019 CWC resolution did not clear its exact stand on this issue and was wavering in its approach, AICC President stated, “The party stands by what it has stated in its resolution (of August 6, 2019). Our first agenda is statehood. We will tackle the rest of the questions after doing it (restoration of statehood to J&K).”

Kharge, who reached here on a day-long campaigning, was addressing a press conference here at ‘Zone by The Park' hotel.

About a query if Congress would support the resolution concerning the restoration of Article 370, which the National Conference promised to “bring in the very first session of J&K Legislative Assembly, after coming to the power”, he was again dithering in his response.

Skirting a direct reply, the Congress President said, “Congress has already spelt out its agenda (manifesto) and we have given resolutions of our (Congress) Working Committee (CWC) also. So, we will stick to our agenda that relates to statehood and our (August 6, 2019) resolutions (on Article 370). Our main objective is the restoration of statehood. Statehood Laaney Ke Baad Baaki Ki Cheezein Hogi... (After restoring statehood, we will look into other issues).”

August 6, 2019 resolution of CWC had “deplored abrogation of Article 370.” Describing it (Article 370) as the “constitutional recognition of the terms of the Instrument of Accession between the State of J&K and India”, it had stated – “It (Article 370) deserved to be honoured until it was amended after consultation with all sections of the people, and strictly following the Constitution of India.”

IS CONGRESS IMPLEMENTING PAKISTAN’S AGENDA IN J&K?

The AICC President alleged that BJP leadership was accusing Congress of implementing Pakistan’s agenda in J&K to divert attention from real issues.

“See, what Modiji and Shah said vis-a-vis Congress that it was attempting to implement Pakistan’s agenda in J&K - was a lie. It was nothing but an attempt to divert attention from real issues. I want to ask them why the BJP has not implemented its agenda. The party has been in power at the Centre for the last ten years; in J&K it has its Lieutenant Governor – why has it (BJP government) not fulfilled its promises to work? Why are they (BJP leadership) talking about Pakistan?” he asked.

Referring to PM Modi’s (impromptu) Lahore visit to meet his (the then) Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif and attend his granddaughter’s wedding, the AICC president mocked, “We had not gone there (in Pakistan) to relish Biryani or exchange hugs (with Sharif). They (BJP leadership) did so and now it is levelling accusations against Congress. They (BJP leadership) talk of patriotism. On proverbial lines, they pretend to be in love with the country but they are wedded to Pakistan.”

The response came in reply to a poser related to the dig of BJP leadership, in particular Prime Minister Narendra Modi, that Congress along with its alliance partner National Conference was colluding to implement Pakistan’s agenda in J&K.

REFERENCE TO THE CONTEXT 

PM Modi, in his election rally at Katra in Reasi district on September 19, while referring to Pakistan Defence Minister’s statement that Pakistan and NC-Congress alliance were on the same page vis-a-vis restoration of Article 370, 35 A in J&K, had hit out at his political opponents (Congress, NC). “One might not be bothered about the NC-Congress (or their manifesto) here in J&K or elsewhere in the country but they were getting a lot of traction in Pakistan. Inki Wahan Balle Balle Ho Rahi Hai... (They (Congress and NC) are receiving accolades in Pakistan...),” the PM had said.

ON RESERVATION

Regarding a question about senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s statement on reservation triggering protests, Kharge said that it (reservation) would not be scrapped till untouchability was there in India.

“Rahul Gandhi did not say anything against untouchability. We will not let him say anything against the reservation. Congress party supports reservation and will continue to do so until untouchability is not removed and social justice is restored,” Kharge said.

He questioned why statehood had not been restored by the BJP to date if it was committed to doing so. “Now it has turned into a minority government. It has no intention to do so (restore statehood),” he said.

Kharge asserted that the Congress-NC combine was confident of attaining a majority in the J&K assembly elections.

Did Congress surrender its interests or was it its compulsion to settle on only 26 seats out of 90 in an alliance with the National Conference?

“No, there is no question of surrender or compulsion. It is only aimed at ousting RSS-BJP and saving J&K. We are working with this singular agenda across the country,” he said.

Can the National Conference (NC) be relied upon as an alliance partner after startling revelations by senior BJP leader Devender Singh Rana, who was earlier with NC that Omar had repeatedly approached the BJP to form an alliance in 2014?

The AICC President sought to downplay these revelations stating that his party was not bothered about the past. “We would work together to win and form the government,” he said.

AICC President said that the party was committed to regularise daily wagers, after coming to power.

He questioned why the PM did not visit turbulent Manipur so far.

About the entry of MP Engineer Rashid’s party and Jamaat-i-Islami candidates in the electoral fray, former Union Minister Bharatsinh Solanki said, “We are fighting elections against non-NC and non-Congress players. Our reply is Rahul Gandhi's Nafrat Ke Bazaar Mein Mohabbat Ki Dukaan.”

Earlier Congress President also cautioned the people of Jammu and Kashmir against, what he said, “the deceitful tactics of the BJP.”

“Instead of focusing on the problems faced by the people, such as unemployment, lack of development, and the delay in restoring statehood, the BJP is trying to mislead the public with irrelevant issues,” Kharge stated.

He said that BJP’s promises, like providing 5 lakh jobs, were “mere 'jumlas'—empty slogans.” Kharge alleged that the ruling party had allowed outsiders to dominate key sectors like mining and liquor contracts.

Elaborating on Congress' plans, Kharge enlisted the party’s “seven guarantees” to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, including Rs 25 lakh health insurance to every family; Rs 3000 to every woman head of the family; Dr Manmohan Singh’s plan of rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits; constitutional rights for OBCs, a caste-based census and safeguarding of land and job rights for the people of J&K.

He also condemned the use of “threatening language against Rahul Gandhi” and said that Congress would launch agitation against it. Kharge promised to restore the “Darbar Move” tradition, after coming to power.

Food security for every member of the family with 11 kg grain; insurance for all crops against natural calamities and a minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 72 per kilogram for apple; additional financial support of Rs 4,000 for landless, tenant, and land-owning farming households per year; unemployment allowance of up to Rs 3,500 per month for one year to qualified youth and filling of one lakh vacant government posts by issuing a job calendar within 30 days were among the guarantees, spelt out by Kharge.

Following the presser, the AICC President, who reached Jammu around behind schedule, addressed an election rally telephonically at Khour in support of party candidate and former Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand.

Tara Chand, later speaking to the media, alleged that the AICC President, who was scheduled to address the election rally, could not reach the spot as “his (Kharge’s) chopper could not get clearance for landing.”