PDP seems to have diluted its stand on controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) whereas BJP has taken a U-turn on Article 370, which grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir, while both the parties have left open the issue of rehabilitation of West Pakistan and other refugees while chalking out a common agenda for the alliance.
Named as the “Agenda for Alliance”, which was released by Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh and Cabinet Minister Dr Haseeb Drabu at a press conference, the Agenda spoke about many things including political and developmental issues.
On the Article 370, which gives special status to the state, the BJP, which has been demanding its abrogation, has now agreed on maintaining its status quo. Even during campaigning in the Assembly elections, the BJP had generally avoided reference to Article 370.
“While recognizing the different positions and appreciating the perception, BJP and PDP have on the Constitutional status of J&K, considering the political and legislative realities, the present position will be maintained on all the Constitutional provisions pertaining to J&K, including the special status in the Constitution,” the document said without directly naming Article 370.
The PDP and BJP have decided to constitute a steering committee comprising presidents of PDP and BJP (Mehbooba Mufti and Jugal Kishore Sharma) and four members from each party for overseeing implementation of the Agenda.
On AFSPA, the Agenda of the Alliance said: “while both parties have historically held a different view on Armed Forces Special Powers Act and need for it in the State at present, as part of the agenda for governance of this alliance, the coalition Government will examine the need for de-notifying disturbed areas. This, as a consequence, would enable the Union Government to take a final view on continuation of AFSPA in these areas.
“In this context, the coalition Government will thoroughly review the security situation in the State with a view to examine the need for desirability of all the special laws being applied to the State in view of the situation, which is improving.’’
While the PDP had maintained in its manifesto that it will review the Disturbed Areas Act, its leaders, during electioneering, had promised that if voted to power, the party will ensure that the AFSPA is withdrawn from the State. BJP, on the other, had opposed any withdrawal of the AFSPA.
When Sayeed was asked whether he was saddened by the stand taken on AFSPA, he shot back saying, “What do you want, peace or AFSPA?”
“I know how to ensure that Army is made accountable. Being the Chief Minister, I am also the chairman of the Unified Command,” he said.
AFSPA gives immunity from prosecution and other legal proceedings to personnel of the armed forces .
The Agenda document said the Government will constitute Delimitation Commission for delimiting of Legislative Assembly constituencies as required by law. Constitution of the Commission was a long pending demand of the BJP, which had been alleging that Jammu has been denied due political representation in the State due to less numbers of seats.
Jammu region has 37 seats as against 46 of Kashmir and four of Ladakh. It also promised to create Scheduled Tribe Ministry for welfare of Scheduled Tribes (STs).
On 25,000 families of West Pakistan refugees, for whom BJP had promised citizenship of the State, the Agenda on Alliance Government says it will “work out a one-time settlement for refugees from Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) of 1947, 1965 and 1971.”
“Take measures for sustenance and livelihood of West Pakistan Refugees. Extend all benefits accruing to the people living on the Line of Control to the people living on the International Border,’’ it said on West Pakistan refugees, who were demanding citizenship rights, a demand openly supported by the BJP during and after the elections. However, there was no reference in the agenda to fulfill main demand of West Pakistani refugees to grant them citizenship rights, a demand that was being strongly opposed by the Kashmir centric parties including the National Conference.
Mufti said he was “not disappointed” over AFSPA not being scrapped.
“I am not at all disappointed (regarding AFSPA). I am as Chief Minister and Chairman of the Unified Command. It is my direction they have to follow. I know how to create a conducive atmosphere. It is my time.”
“I want to draw your attention to one example during my previous term when they were closing Banihal tunnel to Kashmir at around 6 pm. I asked GOC-in-C in Udhampur why are you closing down the tunnel? Isn’t it part of the country? And then they allowed free movement,” Mufti said.
“During our times, Army had no such role as this? Army was creating schools and bridges and we will see that situation improves and we will do it”.
He countered a journalist on AFSPA by saying, “Are you interested in peace or withdrawal of AFSPA? What interest do you have? During my previous tenure General Patankar took good steps and during this period as well Modi Government’s period saw death of two youth in Pulwama and he (PM) held probe and Army was forced to admit that they were innocents”.
“There is no time frame. Army has to be made accountable. There should be no leniency in this. As I have said this as Home Minister of India I know what is what? We will change such a perception,” Mufti said.
“If AFSPA is to be removed, it will get removed. The need is to create an environment and we have understanding on this and we will do it,” he added.
On the time-frame for AFSPA and political alliance, Mufti said, “Political alliance is prerequisite for governance. At that time when Azad was CM, I wrote a letter to him on revocation of AFSPA and today it is reflected in agreement.”
“Except for the authorized lands, there are thousands and thousands of kanals of land, which is illegally with Army and they have to transfer it to legal owners. The lands taken by Army have to be returned,” he said.
The Agenda pledged to pursue Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) to enhance people-to- people contact on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC) to encourage travel and trade with Pak-occupied Kashmir.
The CMP also said that the purpose of this alliance is to form a coalition Government that will be empowered to catalyze reconciliation and confidence building within and across the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir thereby ensuring peace in the State.
It would be pursued by taking CBMs such as enhancing people-to-people contact on both the sides of LoC encouraging civil society exchanges taking travel, commerce, trade and business across the LoC to next level and opening new routes across three regions enhancing connectivity, the document said.
Without referring to the resolution of Kashmir issue and talks with separatists, the document said, “following the same principles the coalition Government will facilitate and help initiate a sustain and meaningful dialogue with all internal stake holders which will include all political groups irrespective of their ideological views and predilection.
“The dialogue will seek to build a broad based consensus on resolution of all the outstanding issues of Jammu and Kashmir,” it said in an obvious reference to Kashmir issue.
The Agenda also asserted both the parties would seek national reconciliation on Jammu and Kashmir and facilitate a meaningful dialogue to seek resolution of all outstanding issues in the State.
“PDP and BJP have entered into the governance alliance based on the agreement and agenda which is an effort towards seeking national reconciliation on Jammu and Kashmir,” it said.
While referring to the political initiatives of the Sayeed Government, the document said the Union Government has recently initiated several steps to normalise relationship with Pakistan.
“The coalition Government will seek to support and strengthen the approach and initiatives taken by the Government to create a reconciliatory environment and built stakes for all in the peace and development within the sub-continent,” it said.
The situation in the State has improved vastly and to build greater public confidence in its sustainability. People of the State must be able to get the peace and normalcy dividend, the document said.
In this context, it said, the coalition Government will thoroughly review the security situation in the State with a view to examine the need and desirability of all the special laws being applied to the State in view of the situation which is improving.
On governance reforms, it said the State Government will be transformed into a ‘Smart Government’ that will be proactive, transparent and accountable.
“It will be reformed and redesigned to be an enabler for business and a strategic partner for long term private sector growth. It shall be the mission of the coalition government to be the most ethical State in the country from the present day position of being the most corrupt State,” the Agenda document said.
For this, new governance systems shall be introduced with national support and international expertise to provide honest, effective inclusive governance and service delivery.
The governance framework envisaged will include institutional capacity building and people-public-private partnership.
This will enable the State to seek national and international financing for its developmental plan and projects for foreign investments in sectors like power, infrastructure, education, agriculture, horticulture, tourism and medical services.
“Simplify doing business in the State by reducing regulatory complexities and costs, easing bureaucratic barriers and simplifying registration processes and clearances. This will also bring down the size, scale and spread of corruption in the state significantly,” the document said.
The overall economic policy will align the economic structure of J&K with its own resources, skills and society. The economic policy will not be formulated for Government’s own activities but for private businesses and enterprises. It will be ensured that powers and decentralisation of decision making is in practice devolved to three-tier Panchayats, Municipalities and Corporations, the Agenda document said.
The third-tier of governance will be empowered to discharge their statutory functions effectively and efficiently by giving them functional roles, fiscal responsibilities.
“To ensure genuine autonomy of institutions of probity, which include: State Accountability Commission, Vigilance Commission, which will be re-designated as Transparency Commission, and an organisation which deals with the Right to Information Act,” it said.
It also said the State Government will work with the Union Government to explore modalities for transfer of Dulhasti and Uri Hydro Power Projects to J&K as suggested by the Rangarajan Committee Report and the Round Table Reports.
The document, which is guiding framework for governance of the coalition Government in J&K, favoured extension of all benefits accruing to the people living on the LoC and the people living on the International Border.
For the deprived groups, the coalition Government will work out a one-time settlement for refugees from Pakistan occupied Kashmir of 1947, 1965 and 1971, it said.
The Government will extend all benefits accruing to the people living on the LoC to the people living on the International Border, it said.
“Make the families of the victims in cross-border firing qualify for benefits given under SRO-43. Construct shelters in vulnerable areas on the LoC and the IB to prevent loss of life,” he said.
“Give ST status to Kollis, Chopans and Paharis. Create a Scheduled Tribe Ministry for the welfare of the STs. Constitute a Delimitation Commission for the delimiting of Legislative Assembly Constituencies as required by law,” it
The document said that in order to address the real source of J&K’s fiscal problem and pave the way for making it a fiscally autonomous State, the State Government will work with the union Government to explore modalities for transfer of Dulhasti and Uri Hydro Power Projects to J&K as suggested by the Rangarajan Committee Report and the Round Table Reports.
“Government will secure a share in the profits of NHPC emanating from J&K waters to the State Government and revise all royalty agreements”, it said.
“Centre to allot a dedicated coal mine in Madhya Pradesh to J&K with coal reserves of not less than 150 MMT for setting up a pit head thermal plant with equity support from Government of India,” it said.
“Restructure and strengthen the Chenab Valley Power Projects Limited as a holding company for all hydropower Projects in the State. Ensure J&K a share in one of the six Ultra Mega Thermal Power Projects”, it said.
Formulate regional development plans to ensure that each region has a specific and focused economic activity that spurs development in the sphere of crafts and tourism, hydropower, non-conventional energy, wind energy, bio-technology, agriculture, manufacturing and trade, it said.
The document said Government will frame a system of criteria-based allocation of financial resources across all three regions. This will be done to ensure equitable distribution and balanced development, it said.
In addition, some key developmental initiatives will be taken for creating model business villages. For example to build a Model Basmati Village in Jammu and a Model Apple Village in Kashmir, it said.
It said that Government will be developing two mega cities: Greater Srinagar and Greater Jammu along with that develop two satellite cities of New Srinagar and New Jammu. It will upgrade all towns with population size of 30,000 to 99,999 into cities.
It will be facilitating growth of Panchayat economy through promotion of Panchayat tourism and e-commerce of local produce.
It will develop Jammu as an independent tourism circuit with specific plans for: Suchetgarh-Samba-Hiranagar border tourism. Katra-Patnitop-Bhaderwah sector, Parmandal-Utterbeni- Surinsar-Mansar sector. Katra-Majalta-Billawar-Basohli sector. Bani-Sarthal-Jai circuit and Rajouri-Poonch (seven lakes) sector.
It also talked about enhancing connectivity by building Basohli-Bani- Bhaderwah road.
In the Valley, it will rebuild shehr-e-khas as a heritage destination by dovetailing craft, heritage and tourism and making Dal lake a world heritage site. Develop, preserve and promote the Dogra heritage and Ladakh’s Hemis festival.
“Till such time the new development paradigm takes shape and yields fruits, the coalition Government will take specific measures to ease day to day life which includes rehabilitation and relief for the Flood Affected victims and their families, The Government of India (GoI) must fully fund the rehabilitation and reconstruction plan,” it said.
The Government will include Srinagar and Jammu in the Smart Cities announced in this year’s budget. In the allotted budget of Rs 2,000 crores as part of urban renewal, GoI must include Jammu and Srinagar, it said.
“For a period of five years, classify all commercial bank lendings in the State as priority sector lendings and Debt waivers for write-offs that banks offer to the flood victims to qualify under the CSR expenditure of corporate organisations mandated under the Companies Act,” the document said.
Government will grant subsidised rate of interest on all “rehabilitation and reconstruction loans” besides Debt relief for Kissan Credit Card and Artisan Credit Card holders.
A set of special fiscal and financial incentives will be sought from the Union Government to support and strengthen industry and tourism in the State.
It also promised improved power supply throughout the year.
Adequate provisions of ration in all rural and semi-urban areas even if on a no-profit and no-loss basis. A special fully funded employment package for educated and semi-skilled youth for engendering.
It also aimed at 100 per cent female literacy and primary healthcare facilities to the people.
A special initiative in the form of a Prime Minister’s Regional Development Plan to catalyse sub-regional development by earmarking 2 per cent of revenues from hydropower for the development of the Chenab region.
It spoke of setting up of a new specialized high tech IT park and bio tech parks in Jammu and Pir Panchal. Food and Textile park in Kathua district. Setting up of a Mega fruit mandi in Kashmir. Setting up a super specialty, AIIMS in the Valley.
Constructing a tunnel on the Mughal road for better connectivity and alternative routing. Developing a Ring road around Jammu city for decongestion of traffic. Develop Ranjit Sagar, Mansar, Wular and Surinsar lakes.
Cleaning and beautification of the Jehlum and Tawi on the pattern of Ganga. Special water bodies plan to preserve identified water bodies in Jammu, Srinagar and Ladakh. Cleaning, revival and preservation of Doodh Ganga and Chenab rivers.
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