Statehood, right to vote snatched; today time to change this: Priyanka Gandhi tells J&K voters

NEW DELHI: As the polling in the first phase of the Jammu and Kashmir election is underay, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has urged the voters to exercise their franchise to strengthen their rights as they were “snatched in the last ten years”.

“Statehood was snatched, the right to vote and elect a government was snatched, the identity and self-respect of Jammu and Kashmir was snatched. Today is the time to change this,” Priyanka Gandhi said in a post on X.

“Your every vote will strengthen Jammu and Kashmir and your rights. Use your right to vote in maximum numbers and make India win with a huge majority.”

Polling for the first phase of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections began at 7 am this morning amid tight security arrangements.

Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi termed the withdrawal of the statehood status of Jammu and Kashmir as a violation of the constitutional rights of its people and assured voters that their vote to the INDIA alliance would restore their rights.

“For the first time in the history of the country, the statehood of a state has been taken away and it has been made a union territory – this is a violation of the constitutional rights of all of you, it is an insult to Jammu and Kashmir,” Rahul Gandhi said in a post on X.

“Your every vote went to INDIA – Will restore your rights – will bring employment opportunities – It will make women stronger – Will bring you out of the ‘Injustice Era’ …will make Jammu and Kashmir prosperous again. Today, come out of your homes in large numbers and exercise your democratic right – vote for INDIA,” he said.

The Congress and the National Conference are fighting the polls in alliance. The PDP, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and People’s Conference, to name a few, are other parties in the fray for 90 Assembly seats.

The voting will conclude at 6 pm. Long queues of voters were seen at polling stations in the morning.

J-K recorded 41.17 % turnout as of 1 pm in the first phase of polls. According to the ECI, Kishtwar recorded 56.86 per cent turnout followed by Doda 50.81 per cent, Ramban 49.68 per cent, Kulgam 39.91 per cent, Shopian 38.72 per cent, Anantnag 37.90 per cent and Pulwama 29.84 per cent. (ANI)