Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah, Friday, joined Rahul Gandhi as the Congress MP\u2019s Bharat Jodo Yatra made its way into Kashmir via Banihal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking on the occasion, Abdullah pointed out that the marathon march was not a PR stunt to give Rahul Gandhi\u2019s image a makeover but an honest effort to change the situation and atmosphere across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The National Conference leader, however, declined to make a comment on the Congress stand on the reinstating of the erstwhile state\u2019s special status, adding that he joined the march not for any individual\u2019s image but for the image of the entire country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Omar Abdullah maintained that Rahul Gandhi had no personal reasons behind the yatra but to counter the hatred and efforts to stir communal tensions and target minorities in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taking a jibe at the Narendra Modi-led regime\u2019s efforts to strengthen ties with Arab Muslim nations, Abdullah said that the BJP government might be making friends with Arab nations but there\u2019s none is currently representing India\u2019s largest minority in the nation\u2019s parliament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Abdullah rued the fact that this might be the first instance wherein ruling party doesn\u2019t have a single member of parliament in Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha from the Muslim community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Congress stand on the abrogation of Article 370, Abdullah said that they will fight the revocation in court and felt that theirs is a very strong case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Read Also<\/strong>: Uttar Pradesh: Video of black SUV being recklessly driven in Noida goes viral, police file case | Watch<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n On Monday, Rahul Gandhi said that the demand for statehood is Jammu and Kashmir\u2019s biggest issue and party will use its \u201cfull power\u201d to see that its reinstated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gandhi, who was speaking to a gathering assembled at Jammu\u2019s Satwari Chowk during the last leg of his Bharat Jodo Yatra, noted that Jammu and Kashmir has the highest level of unemployment in India and stressed that statehood for the erstwhile state was the biggest issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Bharat Jodo Yatra started from Kanyakumari on September 7, entered Jammu and Kashmir from Punjab on Thursday and reached Jammu city on Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The marathon march is scheduled to make halts at Ramban and Banihal along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway before it culminates with a planned grand rally at Srinagar\u2019s\u00a0 Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium on January 30.<\/p>\n\n\n\n