As the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections draw nearer, political parties are ramping up their campaigns across the Union Territory. On Sunday, Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar, who was campaigning in Anantnag, emphasized the need for “actual peace” in the region, stating that the current atmosphere is one of “silence.”
“There is a difference between silence and peace. There is silence here. We have to bring actual peace,” said Kumar during his campaign, supporting All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary Ghulam Ahmad Mir, who is running for the Dooru seat in the upcoming J&K Assembly elections.
Kumar pointed to “a huge anger against the oppression” faced by the people of the Union Territory over the last decade. He expressed optimism about voter turnout, predicting that this time, Kashmir would see its highest-ever voting percentage, with citizens casting their votes against “oppression, unemployment, and injustices,” as well as in favor of restoring their right to statehood.
The Congress leader also took aim at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government, accusing it of harboring “ill intentions.” He criticized independent candidates in the elections, claiming they are aligned with Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
“Those who are contesting the polls as independents are actually slaves of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. This election in Jammu and Kashmir is a fight between two powers—on one side, those who spread hatred, and on the other, those who spread love and fight for the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he remarked.
Kumar framed the election as a clash of ideologies, with the National Conference-Congress coalition on one side and what he described as a BJP-aligned alliance on the other. He urged voters to unite to avoid splitting the vote, emphasizing that the election represents a fight for justice, equality, and the restoration of rights taken from the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
The 90-member Jammu and Kashmir Assembly is set to go to the polls in three phases: September 18, September 25, and October 1, with vote counting scheduled for October 8.
