Congress on Monday released its manifesto for the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections and promised the people of the Union Territory that it will ensure that the central government grants the Union Territory the status of a state again. The party has promised the people of the state to provide inclusive and accountable governance. However, nothing has been said on Article 370 in the manifesto titled ‘Haath Badlega Haalat’.
The central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on August 05, 2019 revoked Article 370 of the Constitution relating to Jammu and Kashmir and converted the state into two union territories named Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The Congress promised that it would take more concrete steps to create a conducive environment for the return and rehabilitation of displaced Kashmiri Pandits.
On the governance front, the party has promised to provide inclusive and accountable governance and has said that it will ensure that the central government grants statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. The party has also vowed to restore the Darbar Move.
The party has said that the seat of power will be shifted to Jammu for six months during winter and it will be brought back to Srinagar in summer. In the manifesto released by All India Congress Committee (AICC) chief spokesperson Pawan Khera and Congress Jammu and Kashmir president Tariq Karra at the party office, the party said, “We will restore the 149-year-old tradition of summer and winter capitals in Srinagar and Jammu respectively by passing a resolution in the first assembly session in favour of the Darbar move.”
The party has also promised to give first preference to those who live in Jammu and Kashmir for jobs, government contracts, land allotments and natural resource concessions. The Congress manifesto says, “We will bring out a white paper on corruption and appoint a Lokayukta within the first 100 days to investigate all allegations against officials (serving and retired) allegedly involved in scams in the last ten years.”
The party has resolved to empower all elected MLAs to ensure quick redressal of people’s grievances and development of their respective constituencies.
The party’s manifesto states, ‘We will restore the Legislative Council and add constituencies to represent classes that are underrepresented in the Assembly such as Other Backward Classes (OBCs), minorities, ex-servicemen, pensioners, teachers, experts, etc.’ The party has also promised to hold panchayat and urban local body (ULB) elections as soon as possible under the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments.
Congress has also promised to take further concrete steps to create a conducive environment for the safe and dignified return and rehabilitation of the displaced Kashmiri Pandit community.
The party manifesto says, ‘Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s rehabilitation program for Kashmiri Pandits will be revived and fully implemented.’ The party has said, ‘We will take more concrete steps to create a favorable environment for the safe and honorable return and rehabilitation of the displaced Kashmiri Pandit community.’
The party said, “We will consider the demand for formation of PoJK Displaced Persons (DPs) and Refugees Board for their welfare and press for implementation of 2014 financial package recommended by the Congress-led state government to the Central government and supported by the Parliamentary Standing Committee. We will provide all rights including the right to sell and transfer the allotted state land and displaced properties to the displaced persons of 1947, 1965 and 1971 and West Pakistan refugees.”
On the employment front, the party has promised unemployment allowance of up to Rs 3,500 per month for one year to eligible youth. The party has also promised to fill one lakh vacant government posts and provide a job calendar within the first 30 days to fill them.
The key promises made by the Congress for women include a monthly transfer of Rs 3,000 to female heads of families from economically weaker sections under the Mahila Samman Yojana.
The party has promised, ‘Under Sakhi Shakti, we will provide interest-free loans up to Rs 05 lakh for each women self-help group.’ In the agriculture sector, the Congress has promised to provide an additional income support of Rs 4,000 per year to landless, tenant and land-owning farmer families. The party said, ‘We will arrange for a 99-year lease to landless farmers cultivating state land.’
What is the plan on Article 370?
All India Congress Committee (AICC) chief spokesperson Pawan Khera and state Congress Committee chief Tariq Hameed Karra released the manifesto at the party office here. When asked about the Congress’ stand on the issue of restoration of Article 370, Khera said that a committee will be formed to draft a common minimum program for the ‘India’ coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir. Restoration of Article 370 is the main election issue of Congress’ ally National Conference.
(With agency input)