Rahul Gandhi accepts J&K Governor's 'invitation', but has few demands
What's the story
After Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik asked former Congress President Rahul Gandhi to visit the state before talking about ground realities, the latter took him up on the offer.
Malik had said he was ready to send an aircraft, but Rahul said he didn't need one.
Apparently, Rahul just wants "freedom to travel" and wishes to meet forces as well as locals.
Context
Background: Rahul mentioned "disturbing reports", Malik replied "Come visit"
On Monday, Malik pulled up Rahul for his statements. While the Congress Working Committee's meeting was underway, Rahul said they had to stop deliberations due to "disturbing reports" from J&K.
Reacting on this, Malik said, "I have invited Rahul Gandhi to come here. I will send you a plane, to observe (the situation) and then speak up."
Malik also said Rahul should speak responsibly.
Reply
Rahul said a delegation of leaders will visit J&K
Taking to Twitter, Rahul wrote he had no qualms in visiting J&K.
"A delegation of opposition leaders and I will take you up on your gracious invitation to visit J&K and Ladakh," he wrote.
He added the delegation doesn't need an aircraft but the freedom to move around, interact with locals and soldiers.
The delegation would also like to meet mainstream leaders, Rahul added.
Twitter Post
Here's what Rahul tweeted
Dear Governor Malik,
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 13, 2019
A delegation of opposition leaders I will take you up on your gracious invitation to visit JK and Ladakh.
We won’t need an aircraft but please ensure us the freedom to travel meet the people, mainstream leaders and our soldiers stationed over there. https://t.co/9VjQUmgu8u
Congress' stand
On Article 370, Congress' opinion is completely different from BJP's
Notably, Congress has been staunchly opposing BJP's decision to scrap Article 370 and revoke J&K's special status.
Last week, CWC, the top decision-making body of the party, passed a resolution saying no government can hamper the status of J&K.
"No government has the power to change its status or divide it or reduce any part of it to a Union Territory," the resolution read.
Quote
Earlier, Rahul said things are "going very wrong there"
"Things are going very wrong there. There are reports of violence, of people dying. We stopped deliberation on our meeting to conduct a presentation on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir," Rahul had said on Saturday when CWC meeting was briefly stopped.
Claims
Separately, Malik claimed situation was better than expected
On a related note, Malik told News18 the situation on the ground was far better than he expected. He said for the past 70 years, people were misguided as Article 370 didn't benefit anyone.
Earlier, he said there was no communal angle to this move.
On allegations of the Valley being turned into a "concentration camp", Malik said people should first understand its meaning.