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Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, departed for Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir, on Saturday to meet residents impacted by recent cross-border shelling from Pakistan.
According to Congress leaders, the purpose of his visit is to show solidarity with the families who lost loved ones during the shelling.
โRahul Gandhi will visit Poonch on May 24 to meet the bereaved families affected by Pakistanโs shelling. He had earlier visited Srinagar on April 25 to meet victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and held discussions with various stakeholders, including the Lieutenant Governor and Chief Minister,โ said AICC General Secretary Jairam Ramesh in a post on X.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah confirmed the visit and welcomed the initiative. โYes, he will visit Poonch. He will meet people and express his sympathies. I thank TMC for taking this initiativeโfive of their members travelled by road, visited Poonch, and are now in Rajouri, before heading to Jammu. Itโs good to see parties standing with people during such difficult times,โ he said.
The Chief Minister stressed the role of elected leaders in engaging with the public and addressing their concerns. โItโs our responsibility to listen and respond to peopleโs issues. While not everything can be resolved instantly, we are committed to hearing everyone and taking action wherever possible,โ he added.
The districts of Poonch and Rajouri have recently been affected by unprovoked Pakistani firing, leading to significant damage to homes and livelihoods. In response, the J&K government has announced Rs 10 lakh in ex gratia for the families of those who lost their lives.
