Rahul Gandhi, a prominent Congress leader, took to X to provide a glimpse of his recent conversation with Satya Pal Malik, the former Governor of Jammu and Kashmir. During this exchange, the two leaders delved into a range of critical topics, including the Pulwama attack and the existing conditions in Jammu and Kashmir.
Rahul Gandhi's X post came with a question, pondering whether their dialogue would lead to an increased involvement of the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
In his caption, Rahul Gandhi shared, "Interesting discussion on important issues like Pulwama, the farmers' protest, and Agniveer with the Governor, former MP, and farmer leader Satyapal Malik!"
Commencing the conversation, Rahul Gandhi inquired about Malik's political journey, to which Malik explained that he has been engaged in politics since 1973, harking back to his student years when he initially became involved in a farmers' party.
Malik expressed his view that Jammu and Kashmir cannot be effectively governed by military might alone, emphasizing the need for a more nuanced approach.
He advocated for the immediate restoration of statehood to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, asserting that the revocation of Article 370 has impacted them less than the loss of their statehood and the transition to a Union Territory.
Regarding the issue of terrorism in the region, Malik highlighted the continued presence of terrorists in the Kashmir Valley and the occurrence of numerous terror-related incidents.
Malik contended that the government had used the Pulwama attack for political gain and suggested that they had disregarded prior warnings related to the incident.
The conversation also touched on the circumstances surrounding the Pulwama attack. Rahul Gandhi recounted his immediate response to the tragedy, where he paid his respects to the fallen heroes.
Malik shared his perspective, indicating that he felt confined in a room during the event and had to navigate through challenges to exit the room, given the presence of Prime Minister Modi.
Malik criticized the government for failing to uphold its commitment regarding Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops and attributed this to the influence of Adani, who constructed extensive storage facilities and procured crops at a predetermined price.
He noted that the Adani name had become closely associated with the government and was being discussed in every village. People, he said, were under the impression that Adani had access to government funds.
Malik suggested that next year, crop prices would increase, allowing Adani to sell them at a higher rate. If MSP was implemented, he believed that farmers would be less inclined to sell their products to Adani at a lower rate.
Discussing the situation in Manipur, Malik alleged that the government had lost control in the conflict-ridden state. He criticized the Chief Minister's inaction and the disturbances created in the North East.
He concluded by expressing his belief that the government's position in Manipur was unsustainable and that they would not return to power after six months.
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