SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) President Tariq Hameed Karra on Monday said the Congress party, under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, was the only political force capable of addressing Jammu and Kashmir’s current political and economic challenges.
Speaking to the media, Karra said, “Whether the issues are political or economic, only Congress under Rahul Gandhi’s leadership can resolve them.”
He said more influential individuals, including religious and opinion leaders, were joining the party, suggesting that Congress was gaining ground in the region.
In response to questions about recent infrastructure inaugurations by the BJP-led government in Jammu and Kashmir, Karra described them as “ribbon-cutting ceremonies” for projects initiated during the UPA government’s tenure. “The foundation of whatever progress you see today in Jammu and Kashmir was laid by the Congress party,” he said.
Commenting on the government’s international outreach efforts, Karra alleged that these were diversionary tactics involving Members of Parliament. He claimed that “thousands of crores” had been spent on public relations abroad.
Referring to the recent Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, including a Kashmiri youth, Karra alleged a security lapse. He questioned how militants managed to travel over 300 km to reach Baisaran if, as claimed, terrorism had ended and peace had been restored after the abrogation of Article 370.
He criticised the government’s response despite reported intelligence inputs and demanded a special session or an all-party meeting to address the matter. “Why were no preventive steps taken?” he asked.
Karra also raised concerns about India’s foreign policy under the present government. He cited the ceasefire after Indo-Pak clashes and alleged third-party intervention, questioning whether reports of US involvement in prompting the ceasefire were consistent with the Simla Agreement and India’s stated policy of bilateralism.
He further questioned External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s reported statement that Pakistan had been informed ahead of certain military actions. “If true, is this not treason?” he asked. (KNO)
