Congress leader Rahul Gandhi reached Srinagar on Monday evening on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir. This is his first visit to Jammu and Kashmir after the reading down of Article 370 and the splitting of the former state into two Union territories.
After the abrogation of Article 370, Rahul Gandhi tried to visit Kashmir, but was disallowed by the government, which cited the law and order situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
He was received at the airport by AICC in-charge J&K Affairs Rajni Patel, JKPCC chief G.A. Mir, Saifuddin Soz and others. In the evening, Rahul attended the wedding of the son of JKPCC chief G.A. Mir.
On Tuesday morning, he visited the Mata Keer Bhavani temple at Tulmulla in Ganderbal. Security in the area was beefed up in view of his visit.
Congress leader Salman Nizami told THE WEEK that Rahul would also visit the Dargah at Hazratbal in Srinagar on the banks of Dal Lake and then inaugurate the Congress party's headquarters in Srinagar, Congress Bhawan.
He said the Congress leader will address the party workers from different parts of the UT before flying back to Delhi in the evening.
Sources said the Congress leader had planned a longer trip to Jammu and Kashmir and intended to spend at least two days in Jammu, but due to the Parliamentary session, the visit was restricted to two days.
Rahul Gandhi is likely to visit Jammu and Kashmir again after the Parliament session concludes.
The Congress party wants the Centre to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir after the delimitation exercise is completed. The party’s dissidents, known as G23, held a show of strength in Jammu in February, much to the chagrin of the top leadership. The dissidents held a rally in Jammu after Ghulam Nabi Azad’s term in the Rajya Sabha came to an end. The dissidents addressed supporters in Jammu wearing saffron turbans, considered a symbol of Dogra pride.
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The Congress had been in coalition governments in Jammu and Kashmir with both the NC and the PDP a few times and commands support in Jammu region. The party has support in at least four constituencies in Kashmir also.