Rahul Gandhi Shocker: Calls Kashmiri Pandits PoK Refugees, Corrects Later | WATCH

New Delhi: Congress MP and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi found himself at the center of controversy following a slip of the tongue during an address in Jammu. While addressing Gandhi stated, “The promise that Manmohan made to the refugees that came from PoK, will be fulfilled by us." 

Recognizing his mistake, Gandhi swiftly corrected himself, adding, “Sorry, the promise made to Kashmiri Pandits will be fulfilled.” 

Rahul Gandhi was referring to a 2007 comment made by then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during an event in Jammu, in which Singh promised to rehabilitate Kashmiri Pandits who were displaced due to militancy in the early 1990s. Despite this commitment, the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits remains an unfulfilled promise, even after Manmohan Singh’s tenure from 2004 to 2014 and two terms of Narendra Modi 's government at the Centre.

Addressing the rally in Sopore, Rahul Gandhi stated, “We wanted the statehood restored before elections. All the people of Jammu and Kashmir wanted the elections to take place after the restoration of statehood.”

Gandhi expressed frustration over the current political situation, highlighting the necessity of statehood as a fundamental right for the residents. He declared that the INDIA Alliance would apply pressure on Prime Minister Modi in Parliament to achieve this goal. "If they don't do this, then we will restore your statehood as soon as the INDIA Alliance forms the government at the centre," he promised.

He drew parallels from India's political history, citing instances where Union Territories were granted statehood, such as Telangana from Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand from Bihar . "For the first time after independence, a state was turned into a UT. This was done to Jammu and Kashmir. This is an injustice to you," he asserted, adding that the democratic rights of the people have been compromised.

Gandhi further criticized the governance of Jammu and Kashmir, stating, "Today, J&K is not run by the people of J&K; it is run by the people of other states." He reiterated the importance of restoring statehood for the region's political future, insisting, “We want your democratic rights, and the statehood of J&K should be given back to you.”