Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge pledged to fight for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir during a rally in Kathua district on Sunday. While speaking to supporters, Kharge, who became unwell and received medical assistance, declared, “I am 83 years old; I am not going to die so early. I will stay alive until PM Modi is removed from power.”
Kharge accused the BJP government of governing Jammu and Kashmir through “remote control” and claimed they delayed elections until compelled by the Supreme Court. “They never wanted to conduct the elections,” he said. “We will fight to restore statehood. We are not going to leave it.”
The Congress leader criticised the BJP for allowing outsiders to dominate key sectors like mining and liquor contracts in the region. “The people of J&K deserve better governance, and the BJP has failed to deliver,” he added.
Kharge also took aim at PM Modi, stating that in the last decade, the youth of India have been left in darkness due to his policies. He pointed out that the country is facing its highest unemployment rate in 45 years under Modi’s leadership.
“In Jammu and Kashmir, 65 per cent of government positions are vacant. Jobs here are being given to outsiders on a contractual and daily wage basis,” he noted. Kharge expressed concern that even in AIIMS Jammu, local residents have been overlooked for jobs.
The Congress president accused PM Modi of spreading falsehoods during his campaigning, suggesting Modi’s “nervousness” about the upcoming elections was evident. “The BJP has done nothing for the people of Jammu and Kashmir in the past 10 years,” he claimed, urging voters to be wary of the ruling party’s “deceitful tactics.”
Kharge slammed the BJP’s promise of creating 500,000 jobs, calling it an empty slogan. “For 10 long years, they could not deliver a few thousand jobs to the youth. How can they now promise five lakh jobs?” he asked.
He concluded his speech by emphasizing the need to restore the “Darbar Move” tradition for the economic prosperity of both regions. Kharge urged attendees to vote for Congress’s Jasrota candidate, Thakur Balbir Singh, in the final phase of elections on October 1.