J-K Polls: PDP Manifesto Promises Restoring Article 370, Trade With Pak; Mufti Opens Up On NC-Congress Alliance
PDP Manifesto: PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti released her party's manifesto, emphasising resolution and reconciliation in Jammu and Kashmir, especially after the abrogation of Article 370.
PDP Manifesto: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti unveiled her party’s manifesto titled "People's Aspirations" in Srinagar, emphasising the need for resolution and reconciliation in the region, especially after the abrogation of Article 370. Mehbooba Mufti, addressing the gathering, stated, "We are releasing our manifesto today, and as usual, since the beginning of PDP, it has started for a cause. We have always worked for the resolution and reconciliation. After the abrogation of Article 370, the situation has worsened in Jammu and Kashmir."
The manifesto reiterates the PDP's commitment to reversing the "unconstitutional and illegal" revocation of Articles 370 and 35A in 2019, which it claims has exacerbated the Kashmir issue and deepened the alienation felt by the region's people. "The PDP is resolute in its pursuit of restoring the constitutional guarantees that were unjustly scrapped and is committed to restoring Jammu & Kashmir to its original status, ensuring that the voices of its people are heard and their rights are safeguarded," the manifesto stated.
Focusing on diplomatic efforts, the PDP promised to push for improved relations between India and Pakistan, emphasising conflict resolution, confidence-building measures, and regional cooperation. The party has proposed establishing full connectivity across the Line of Control (LoC) to facilitate trade and social exchange, advocating for a regional free-trade area and a shared economic market.
"The first point in our manifesto is about reconciliation and resolution along with restoring the trade across the LoC," Mufti said.
The PDP also highlighted its intent to reopen traditional trade routes to Central and South Asia through Jammu and Kashmir, aiming to boost economic integration in the region. Additionally, the party vowed to repeal the Public Safety Act (PSA), the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), and the Enemy Act, while also committing to the revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).
The manifesto also addressed the issue of "unjust" job terminations, particularly those of Jammu and Kashmir government employees dismissed over terror abetment charges. The PDP promised to revisit these cases, accelerate the process of filling government vacancies within a year, and regularise 60,000 daily wagers during the same period. The party also pledged to launch initiatives to create jobs in key sectors like tourism, agriculture, and technology.
Regarding the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits, the PDP's manifesto underscored its commitment to ensuring their dignified return to their homeland. "This is not just a return, but a restoration of the cultural and spiritual essence of Kashmir," the manifesto noted. The party promised to replace the current one-BHK scheme with a minimum allocation of two-BHK apartments for every returning family and to prioritise Kashmiri Pandits as beneficiaries of the Centre's scheme providing five marlas of land for landless families.
Furthermore, the PDP committed to advocating for the opening and promotion of Sharda Peeth across the LoC as a full-fledged religious pilgrimage site, aiming to reconnect people with their cultural and religious heritage and foster greater understanding and peace between communities on both sides of the LoC.
In a bid to address the socio-economic challenges in the region, the PDP's manifesto promised 200 free units of electricity to every household, free water, 12 gas cylinders annually for economically weaker sections, and the abolition of property tax for all households and stamp duty for women purchasing property.
Highlighting the broader goals of the manifesto, Mehbooba Mufti remarked, "At this time, the Kashmir issue has been reduced to seat sharing. But it’s much bigger and still remains unresolved. Dialogue, opening of roads, and trade were started by PDP. Jammu and Kashmir is not only about seat sharing, Article 370, or elections, but much more. The first point in our manifesto is about reconciliation and resolution, along with restoring trade across the LoC."
Mufti also expressed concerns about the misuse of laws such as the Public Safety Act (PSA) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) against civilians and journalists. She stressed that the issue of Jammu and Kashmir cannot be resolved by imprisoning people, and urged the Home Minister to address these concerns.
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Jammu-Kashmir Elections 2024: Mehbooba Mufti On NC-Congress Alliance
On the potential of joining the National Conference (NC) and Congress alliance, Mehbooba Mufti remarked, "Alliance and seat sharing are faraway things. If the National Conference and Congress are ready to adopt our agenda, we will say they should contest on all seats, we will follow them because for me solving the problem of Kashmir is more important than anything else... When we allied earlier also, we had an agenda, when we allied with the BJP, we had an agenda that they agreed to but the alliance between the National Conference and Congress is not happening on the agenda, it is happening on seat sharing", news agency ANI reported.
#WATCH | J&K: PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti says, "Alliance and seat sharing are faraway things. If the National Conference and Congress are ready to adopt our agenda, we will say they should contest on all seats, we will follow them because for me solving the problem of Kashmir is… pic.twitter.com/nllk8ld225
— ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2024
"We will not do any alliance in which there is only talk of seat sharing. The alliance should be on agenda and our agenda is to solve the problem of Jammu and Kashmir," she remarked.
Earlier, two PDP candidates filed their nomination papers on Friday in Ramban district, which is set to go to polls in the first phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections on September 18. Imtiaz Ahmed Shan of the PDP filed his nomination papers in Banihal, while Suteesh Kumar, an Independent candidate, filed his nomination in Ramban. The last day for filing nomination papers is August 27, with the counting of votes scheduled for October 4.
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