“Development stalled, elections were not held for 10 yrs”: Sachin Pilot in Poonch

Poonch (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], September 18 (ANI): Congress leader Sachin Pilot alleged on Wednesday that development has been stalled in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and said people are looking for a government that will meet their expectations.

As polling for the 24 assembly seats was underway in Jammu and Kashmir, Pilot said while interacting with reporters in Poonch, “This is a border area. The Congress party has always been strong here…People are looking for a government that will meet their expectations. I hope INDIA alliance government will be formed here.”

“BJP is contesting the elections. And have propped up many proxy candidates to divide the votes. But the voters here understand this politics,” Pilot said. “Development has been stalled here. Elections were not held for the last ten years. We will win with an absolute majority when the results are announced.”

Elections are being held after a gap of nearly ten years and are the first since the abrogation of Article 370.

On what would be the agenda of this alliance concerning Article 370, he said, “This alliance came together to stop the BJP. Despite their efforts in Jammu and Kashmir, people are not liking them. After coming to power, we will restore the statehood. BJP who snatched the statehood of the people, is shying away from saying this. People are upset with their decision.”

Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, Congress leader Gurdeep Singh Sappal said “BJP made many promises to J&K when Article 370 was abrogated but today the situation is such that Kashmir is ranked number two unemployment. This has not happened anywhere else in the country. In 2005 the unemployment rate here was 5.67 percent and now it has gone up three times.”

Voting, which commenced at 7 am today, is underway across the Union Territory. It will conclude at 6 pm.

Voting for the second and third phases in J-K will be held on September 25 and October 1, respectively. The counting and results will be announced on October 8.