With the announcement of election dates, political parties in Jammu and Kashmir have started preparations. In this sequence, the National Front announced its manifesto on Tuesday, which contains 12 guarantees. These include the restoration of Article 370 and the state status of Jammu and Kashmir and the implementation of the autonomy resolution passed by the then assembly in the year 2000. The BJP has called the NC’s manifesto anti-national.
In fact, in June 2000, the National Conference government led by Farooq Abdullah passed a resolution in the Assembly demanding restoration of the constitutional status of the state before 1953. However, the Union Cabinet headed by the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee rejected it. At the same time, the Narendra Modi government repealed Article 370 giving special status to Jammu and Kashmir in the year 2019 and divided the erstwhile state into two union territories – Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
The NC’s manifesto for the upcoming assembly elections also promises amnesty for all political prisoners and a dignified return of Kashmiri Pandits to the valley. The party has made promises in its election document such as 200 units of free electricity, relief from power and water crisis, transfer of hydropower projects to Jammu and Kashmir and 12 free LPG cylinders every year to the economically weaker sections.
Releasing the manifesto at a press conference, NC vice-president Omar Abdullah said the party was making only those promises that it could fulfil, PTI reported. He described the manifesto as NC’s vision document and roadmap for governance. The manifesto makes 12 broad promises, including striving for full implementation of the autonomy resolution passed by the Jammu and Kashmir assembly in 2000.
The NC election document says, “We strive to restore (Article) 370-35A and restore statehood to the position it held prior to August 5, 2019.” In the interim period, “we will strive to re-draft the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 and the Rules for the Functioning of the Government of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, 2019.”
The manifesto promises that the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, in its first list of business after the elections, will pass a resolution against the Centre’s decision to strip the region of its statehood and special status. It will seek to amend, repeal and repeal the post-August 5, 2019 laws that affect the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. The party also promised to protect the land and employment rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, encourage dialogue between India and Pakistan and ensure the release of prisoners lodged in jails.
The manifesto also includes simplified job verification process, addressing “unjust” dismissal of employees and ending harassment of people on highways. The National Conference also promised a comprehensive job package to the youth, one lakh jobs and filling all vacancies in government departments within 180 days of coming to power. Another guarantee announced by the party aims to provide Rs 5,000 per month to female heads of family belonging to social welfare and economically weaker sections of the society.
Along with this, it also promised to strengthen the public distribution system, provide 10 kg rice/flour per person every month and work towards setting up a minority commission. The manifesto states that the party will implement its WADA (War Against Drug Abuse) report to eliminate the drug menace.
The party said if the National Conference forms the government, it will strengthen the agriculture and horticulture sectors, create a robust health infrastructure and set up a medical trust with free insurance of Rs 5 lakh per year for people needing heart and kidney transplants and those suffering from fatal diseases like cancer.
The election document promised to give industry status to the tourism sector and to explore new tourist destinations in Jammu and Kashmir, including Pir Panjal, Chenab and other areas. The National Conference promised free education up to the university level and a strong plan for the education sector. It also promised extensive expansion of Srinagar and Jammu cities.
BJP called the manifesto of National Conference anti-national. BJP MP from Jammu Jugal Kishore Sharma and Jammu and Kashmir BJP chief spokesperson Sunil Sethi said in a press conference that the manifesto of NC is anti-national and in support of separatists. National Conference wants a return to the dark days of stone pelting and protests.
NC is fooling the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Let us tell you that the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be held in three phases on 18 September, 25 September and 1 October. The results will be declared on 4 October. In December last year, the Supreme Court had directed the Election Commission to conduct assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir by 30 September.
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)