Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Nov 28: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) today released its election manifesto promising re-modeling of State’s political and economic structure and pursuing Self Rule for the State as framework for resolution of Kashmir issue, besides corruption free good governance and rebuilding shattered economy of the State.
The manifesto tiled, “Aspirational Agenda”, released by PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, its president Mehbooba Mufti and senior leaders of the party, Muzaffar Hussain Beigh, Tariq Hameed Karra, A R Veeri, Naeem Akhtar, Dr Haseeb Drabu, Altaf Bukhari and Moulvi Imran Raza Ansari, reads: “The special status enshrined in Article 370 is required to empower the people of Jammu and Kashmir and help deal with the issues of identity, borders and governance.”
Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said that his party would use Article 370 to restore the original special status of the State as this special provision of the Constitution of India is required to empower the people of J&K and help deal with the issues of identity, borders and governance. “Article 370 impacts everything in J&K, from political discourse to personal responses, from economy to emotions, from society to sensibilities and from institutions to ideologies,” he said.
The former Chief Minister said that if his party comes to power it would strive towards making the State politically empowered, economically self reliant, environmentally safe, socially cohesive and culturally vibrant.
Mufti said besides putting in place a mechanism for politico-economic remodeling of the State, PDP would initiate tangible measures for reforming the Government to ensure effective governance, revive the civil society and provide greater opportunities to the youth to make them self-reliant.
The party said the self rule document will be the guiding framework for resolution which included closer ties across the Line of Control, making borders irrelevant and complete connectivity between various parts of the State. It also envisages economic and social integration of the region around Jammu and Kashmir by setting up Regional Free Trade Area and common economic market.
The PDP has also included its earlier agenda of setting up joint coordination mechanism for projects across the Line of Control and joint regulatory commission on trade and tariffs.
The party has promised constitutional restructuring by restoring the powers of the State Assembly and empowering the sub-regions of the State.
“Economic policy and reforms will promote self rule through extensive import substitution, intensive export orientation and globalisation of skills and standards,” the manifesto reads.
The PDP will focus on International benchmarking of products and processes by registering patents for handicrafts manufactured in the State like shawls and carpets. The party also promises regional trade integration with SAARC economies.
Mufti said: “This is based on the European Union model where trade between the member countries is free from levies. The SAARC region will also have to move in that direction.”
The former Chief Minister said to a question about party’s alliance with BJP after the polls in view of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s focus on regional cooperation in SAARC, that it was not a question of allying but coordination. “In 2002, we worked in coordination with Centre and started some model steps like cross-LoC travel and trade. There are no customs levies or visa involved in these processes. This has to be taken to a bigger scale now,” he said.
The PDP also promised rebuilding the State economy and creating employment avenues. “We are not talking about providing Government jobs but creating avenues where the youth of the State can find gainful employment,” Drabu said while giving presentation about the manifesto.
On the return of migrant Kashmiri Pandits, the PDP manifesto maintained that they will be reintegrated and absorbed in the Kashmiri milieu.”Reintegration has to be a process that must start within the State as well as the civil society. Return with dignity will be based on a legal framework of citizenship and their rights as the State subject,” it added.
The PDP also promised a legislative framework for empowerment of all minorities, including Sikhs and Christians. It says that they will recommend to the Government of India to declare Sikhs as a minority in Jammu and Kashmir under the National Minorities Act. “We will ensure equitable distribution of development across all religious and ethnic monitories”, reads the manifesto.
In its manifesto PDP promised one time settlement for 1947 Pakistan-occupied Kashmir refugees and will pursue the Scheduled Tribe status for Pahari people of the State.
On the women empowerment front, the party also promised to make it mandatory for all political parties to field 33 per cent female candidates in elections.
The manifesto says that PDP would review the issues relating to notifying of Disturbed Areas to pave the way for revocation of AFSPA.
“We would also review all the cases against the youth and stop use of inhuman crowd control methods like the pellet guns. A special toll free hotline would be created in the Chief Minister’s office for young State subjects who are in distress outside the State”, reads the manifesto.
The manifesto says that the party would renegotiate all natural resource sharing agreements with the Centre, in particular water resources and the hydro-power projects. “We would seek share in the profits of NHPC emanating from J&K waters and party would also seek a review of the royalty agreement”, reads the manifesto.
The party manifesto says that rehabilitation of flood affected and flood impacted will be the first priority of PDP, under the party’s economic policy framework, economic structure of J&K will be aligned with its own resources, skills and society. “Economic policy will not be formulated for Government’s activities but for private businesses and enterprises,” reads the manifesto.
The manifesto says that special economic zones would be created for different regions of the State including crafts and tourism for Jhelum Valley, hydropower for Chenab Valley, non conventional energy for Indus Valley, biotechnology for Pir Panchal and manufacturing and trade for Jammu.
The core areas for focused attention of the PDP in the manifesto are power, horticulture, manufacturing, trade, tourism and crafts with various new initiatives being launched to promote these sectors.
PDP manifesto says that it would create Model Business Villages for horticulture and agriculture produce. “Each MBV will have high density orchard/production unit, storage/designing facility, picking and grading line/grinding unit and packaging and processing unit/marketing setup. Three organic Valleys would be setup in the State; one each in Chenab, Jhelum and Nubra Valleys to promote world-class organic farming”, reads the manifesto.
The manifesto says Jammu and Srinagar would be developed as smart cities with rapid transport system and other basic amenities besides creating more satellite cities in the State. It also promises intra and inter-region connectivity and construction of tunnels on Mughal Road, Anantnag-Sinthan-Kishtwar Road, Srinagar-Kargil Road, Bandipora-Gurez road, Kupwara-Karnah road. “Besides, a separate tourism development authority would be setup for promotion of tourism along Mughal Road circuit”, the manifesto reads.
The manifesto also puts emphasis on creation of special educational and health zones in various parts of the State to facilitate setting up of quality education and health institutions to create employment and generate wealth.
Manifesto also includes institutionalizing vending business through legal framework, enhancing children rights relating to education, health & nutrition, provide special access to physically challenged, financial security for women and employment through entrepreneurship.
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