JAMMU, Nov 23:
Softening stand on De-limitation Commission, Congress party today promised rotation of reserve seats under De-limitation in Jammu region and constitution of regional councils in all the three regions of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.
“The De-limitation Commission was brought during my Government in 2002 but due to some coalition compulsions it cannot be implemented,” former Union Minister and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad told reporters after releasing Congress manifesto here this evening.
He was flanked by the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Saif-ud-Din Soz.
Mr Azad said, “Under De-limitation Commission, the Congress party will go for rotation of reserve seats,” adding, “we are of the opinion that instead of increasing Assembly seats under Commission, there will be rotation of reserve seats, which is possible only in Jammu region,” Mr Azad said and added that regional councils for Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh will also be constituted.
On Article 370, the Congress stalwart said, “Abrogation of Article 370 will not have any effect in the Kashmir Valley but in Jammu region.”
“Jammu is a ‘Cosmopolitan’ City and people from the State either from Kashmir or Ladakh prefer to settle here not in the Valley or in Ladakh,”, he said. The former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister however, also cleared that without alliance there will be no Government formation in the State.
“Coalition is a compulsion and no Government in j&K will be formed without Congress party,” he added and said that the Congress may not be able to form the Government alone.
Mr Azad further said there will be no poll boycott in the Kashmir Valley and people will exercise their franchise in large.
He also criticised the State Government including its coalition partner National Conference for not carrying forward and completing the developmental projects initiated during his regime.
On Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Kishtwar rally, Mr Azad said, “Mr Modi should not have used the terms like ‘loot-khasoot’ by the State Governments or political parties.”
“J&K is completely dependent on funds from the Centre as there are limited resources of generating revenue in the State, so there is no possibility of any ‘loot’, ” he added.
He said the Prime Minister is a man of stature but being ‘misled’ by the BJP leadership.
“Earlier on Mission 44 plus then he was misinformed on Kishtwar district, which is in Jammu region not in Kashmir but Mr Modi during his rally, focussed only on Kashmir despite addressing the gathering in the Jammu region,” said Mr Azad.
He also lambasted the BJP for having “internal tie-up” with Hurriyat people and sidelining the Article 370 issue. (AGENCIES)
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