Jammu:
Rahul Gandhi visited Jammu and Kashmir for two days beginning Wednesday during which he will meet members of chambers of commerce and interact with Congress leaders.
The Congress Vice President will first visited the PCC office in Jammu today and met elected members of local self government (Panchayati Raj) of Jammu and Kashmir.
Gandhi assured the sarpanches, "We will implement the 73rd amendment." "You will get your right. I will fight this battle for you. I will keep coming and keep mounting pressure...You have to fight this battle. We are with you. We, all of us together, will put pressure on the state government. We are with you. This thing will happen cent per cent," he said.
"This is the politics of the future and this is what will happen in Jammu and Kashmir as well. I want to assure you that in the time to come, you will get these rights...In 21st century, the Panchayats, the local bodies will have to be empowered.
"Decisions will be taken in villages in the 21st century. If we have to change Jammu and Kashmir, then first of all we will have to empower the leaders of Panchayats and local bodies...There is no other way to empower you if you have to run this state because MLAS, MPs cannot do what you can do. They don't have the kind of knowledge about villages that you have," Gandhi said.
Later, he will meet members of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Jammu.
On Thursday, Gandhi will inaugurate a 5000-tonne Controlled Atmospheric Store for Horticulture Produce at Pulwama in Kashmir.
He will attend a function of Women's Self Help Group Initiative for Jammu & Kashmir in Budgam.
The Congress leader will also attend a meeting of Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee at Party Office in Srinagar.
Last year, Rahul had taken a group of the country's top-most industrialists and corporate leaders, including Ratan Tata, Kumarmangalam Birla, Rajiv Bajaj and Deepak Parekh, and the Kashmir University campus and interacted with students.
