PDP promises restoration of Art 370, 35A in manifesto
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 24: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti today said that her party will extend complete support to the Congress-NC alliance and leave all seats in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections to the coalition if it is ready to accept the party’s agenda.
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Mufti said this while talking to reporters following the release of the PDP’s manifesto for the Assembly elections.
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“Forget about alliance and seat-sharing, if the Congress and the National Conference (NC) are ready to accept our agenda – that resolution of the Kashmir issue is necessary and on opening of routes – we will tell them to contest on all the seats and we will follow you,” she said.
The PDP chief said the dignity of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, which “was being trampled on”, was important for her party.
“Because, for me, the resolution of the Kashmir problem is much more important than anything else,” she added when asked if the Congress had approached the PDP for an alliance.
“Whether you give me three or four seats, it does not mean anything to me. When we entered into an alliance with either the Congress or the BJP, it was on our agenda. The NC and the Congress have not entered into an alliance on any agenda but for seat-sharing and we will not talk of such an alliance, which only talks about seat-sharing,” she said.
“Our alliance should be based on an agenda and our agenda is to find the resolution to the Jammu and Kashmir issue… No doubt within the Constitution of this country but a resolution,” she added.
Asked if there could be a post-poll alliance between the PDP and the BJP, Mehbooba said, “There is nothing like that. We had joined hands with the BJP Government and not the party and we had put a condition that they would not touch Article 370.”
In its manifesto the PDP promised restoration of Articles 370 and 35A and safeguarding rights of the people of J&K.
“The unconstitutional and illegal revocation of Articles 370 and 35A in 2019 has further complicated the Kashmir issue, deepening the alienation felt by the people of the region. 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 PDP stated in their manifesto.
The PDP has promised the advocacy of “diplomatic initiatives between India and Pakistan, emphasising conflict resolution, confidence-building measures, and regional cooperation” and the establishment of “full connectivity across the LoC for trade and social exchange.”
It says that the party will strive for the “revocation of PSA, UAPA and Enemy Act to put an end to unjust arrests of political and social activists, journalists, civil society and concerned citizens” and are committed to “the revocation of AFSPA.”
The party is “committed to the dignified return of Kashmiri Pandits to their homeland, ensuring they are welcome back as honoured members of our community” and further promised to revise the “current 1 BHK scheme to the minimum allocation of 2 BHK apartments for every returning family.”
It promised one “free 200 units of electricity to every household”, “one time settlement for pending electricity bills,” and “abolish meter system for water.”
It also promised “12 cylinders free of cost per year to EWS” and doubling of funds “under social security schemes like Old Age Pension, Widow Pension and Pension for Disabled from 1000 to 2000.”
The party further promised “60,000 daily wagers to be regularised within one year” and reinstating “the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for all Government employees, replacing the current National Pension Scheme (NPS)” under their youth and employment promises.
The party promises “transfer of hydropower projects to Jammu and Kashmir”, and establishing a “Disney Adventure Park at Tattoo Ground Srinagar.”
It also promised the implementation of a “25-year comprehensive master plan for every municipal area in Jammu and Kashmir” for “sustainable and planned urban growth.”
The party also promised to “restore the Waqf Board to its former excellence with transparency, accountability, and a community-focused approach.”
It also promised to advocate the opening and promotion of Sharda Peeth across the Line of Control (LoC) as a full-fledged religious pilgrimage site.
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