Congress MP Rahul Gandhi during a poll rally Photo: PTI Congress MP Rahul Gandhi during a poll rally Photo: PTI 
Kick starting Congress party’s election campaign for Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, party leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday assured J&K people that restoration of statehood will be the first decision of INDIA-bloc government at the Centre in case Prime Minister Narendr Modi led government fails to restore it after the polls.
Leader of Opposition(LoP) Rahul Gandhi said the restoration of statehood to J&K is the collective responsibility of all citizens of the country.
Rahul Gandhi made these remarks, at election rally in Dooru assembly segment of Jammu and Kashmir, PTI reported.
VIDEO | Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections 2024: Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) arrives in Sangaldan to address a political rally.(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/dv5TRARJn4) pic.twitter.com/eHhJq8tIP5
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 4, 2024
Jammu & Kashmir Elections 2024 Dates: Voting In 3 Phases On Sept 18, 25 And Oct 1, Results On Oct 8 | Full Schedule Congress’ national general secretary G A Mir is contesting the polls from this seat as candidate of Congress-NC alliance.
"Restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir is a responsibility of not only the Congress party or INDIA bloc but of every citizen of the country," Rahul Gandhi said.
Full List: BJP Candidates Contesting Jammu & Kashmir Assembly Election 2024 He said his party had wanted that the statehood to Jammu and Kashmir be restored before holding of assembly polls but the BJP wanted to do it after the elections.
"One thing is sure that Jammu and Kashmir will get back its statehood, I guarantee that. Either the BJP restores it (after polls) or when INDIA bloc forms the next government (at the Centre), it will be the first decision to be taken," he said.
The former Congress chief said it was for the first time since Independence that a state has been reduced to a Union territory which has led to snatching of rights of thepeople.
"Upgrading a Union territory to state or dividing a state for creating new states leads to devolution of power as states have assemblies which make their own laws. But reducing a state to a Union territory takes away the powers and this injustice has happened with Jammu and Kashmir," he added.
Jammu And Kashmir Elections: BJP Releases 3rd List Of Candidates Gandhi claimed that the lieutenant governor appointed by the Centre in Jammu and Kashmir is acting like a "21st century king" and all benefits are being given to people from outside the UT.
"Here, LG is the king of the 21st century. Whatever he wants, he does it. The people here neither get employment nor any other benefits. The government gives all that to outsiders.
"They won't do anything about high electricity tariffs. They will give benefits to BJP and RSS people. This fight is not only here but throughout the country...the BJP and RSS are attacking democracy. The institutions like EC, bureaucracy, media, all are being controlled," he said.
Earlier, Rahul Gandhi arrived in Sangaldan to address a rally. He also addressed a rally in Gool Ramban and Dooru in Valley’s Anantnag.
The officially announced polling dates for the three phases to elect 90 members of the assembly are- September 18, September 25, and October 1 respectively.
JK elections: Congress-NC pre-poll alliance
Ahead of the assembly elections, Congress and the National Conference (NC) have settled for a pre-poll alliance in Jammu and Kashmir where the elections are held for the first time since the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution in August 2019.
As per the final seat-sharing deal, National Conference will contest 51 seats and while Congress will contest 32 seats. The two parties will have friendly contests on five seats and they left one seat each for the CPI(M) and the Panthers Party.
Ghulam Ahmed Mir, Vikar Rasool Wanisbet, and former Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Peerzada Mohammad Syed are contesting in the first phase of the elections.