Overview
- Speaking at Kerala’s Vision 2031 conference on February 17 in Thiruvananthapuram, the National Conference leader delivered an emotional address and received a public embrace from Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
- He said people in the North live with discrimination and fear, praising Kerala’s social harmony and saying the South gives strength and hope to those facing intimidation.
- Questioning the claim that the 2019 abrogation of Article 370 ended terrorism, he cited attacks including Pulwama, Pahalgam and a recent incident in Udhampur.
- He argued Jammu and Kashmir’s Union Territory status has weakened its elected Assembly, with decisions left to the Lieutenant Governor and business rules still pending.
- Warning that details of the U.S.–India trade agreement remain unclear, he voiced anxiety for apple, walnut and almond growers and criticised pressure to curb purchases of Russian oil as an affront to economic sovereignty.