Srinagar, Aug 24: People’s Democratic Party President Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday said her party will offer full support to the newly formed Congress-National Conference alliance if they endorse the PDP’s agenda that includes the “resolution of the Kashmir issue”.
Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters here, Mufti said her party will not contest for seats in the upcoming assembly elections but fully support the Congress-NC alliance if they agree to adopt the PDP’s agenda.
“Power and seats are not the priority for us. However, if our agenda is accepted, we will extend our support to the alliance in Jammu & Kashmir,” she said.
Mehbooba said in the previous government, they had initially allied with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to “protect the identity” of J&K, but now that the situation has changed, a partnership with the BJP, based on our agenda, is no longer possible.
She also said that the PDP is committed to the dignified return of Kashmiri Pandits to their homeland and ensuring they are welcomed back as honoured members of the community. “We will strive to take all the stakeholders on board to secure a closure to this humanitarian crisis. This is not just a return, but a restoration of the cultural and spiritual essence of Kashmir,” she said.
Mufti said that the party will strive to ensure that Kashmiri Pandits are the first beneficiaries of the Government of India’s Scheme of 5 marlas of land for landless families.
On the occasion, the PDP released its manifesto, according to which the party will revoke the current 1 BHK scheme to a minimum allocation of 2 BHK apartments for every returning family. It promised to support young entrepreneurs from the community with special tax benefits, credit facilities and other benefits to establish business units in the valley.
Development of existing temples with Sarai facilities and devising a policy of sustenance for non-migrants who did not migrate during 1990 is also in the manifesto. “This is a pledge to heal past wounds and rebuild a united and harmonious Kashmir,” it added.
The PDP Chief further said the party will restore Jammu & Kashmir’s “original status” and address the “grievances” caused by the 2019 revocation of Articles 370 and 35A.
While releasing the party’s manifesto, she said if voted to power they will provide up to 200 units of free electricity and abolish water taxes, with no water meters. “For households with 1 to 6 members, we plan to reintroduce the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed scheme, ensuring they receive 12 cylinders of gas per year. We will also double social security benefits, such as old age and widow pensions,” she said.
The PDP’s manifesto further committed to advocating for “diplomatic initiatives between India and Pakistan, focusing on conflict resolution, confidence-building measures, and regional cooperation, and establishing full connectivity across the LoC for trade and social exchange”.
The party pledged to work toward the revocation of PSA, UAPA and the Enemy Act to end “unjust” arrests of political and social activists, journalists, civil society members, and concerned citizens.
Additional promises include doubling the funds “under social security schemes like Old Age Pension, Widow Pension, and Disability Pension from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 and the regularisation of 60,000 daily wagers within one year. The party vowed to reinstate the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for all government employees, replacing the current National Pension Scheme (NPS).
In terms of infrastructure development, the PDP promised to “transfer hydropower projects to Jammu & Kashmir” and establish a “Disney Adventure Park at Tattoo Ground, Srinagar”. It proposed implementing a 25-year comprehensive master plan for every municipal area in J&K to ensure sustainable and planned urban growth.
The PDP pledged to restore the Waqf Board to its “former excellence” with “transparency, accountability and a community-focused approach”.
The party committed to advocating for the opening and promotion of Sharda Peeth across the Line of Control (LoC) as a full-fledged religious pilgrimage site.
‘Copy-paste of NC’: Kavinder slams PDP’s manifesto
Jammu, Aug 24: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Deputy CM of Jammu and Kashmir Kavinder Gupta on Saturday criticised the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) election manifesto, calling it a “copy-paste” of the National Conference’s (NC) manifesto.
Speaking to ANI, Gupta said they (NC and PDP) are traitors and they want to make Jammu and Kashmir hell again. “This is a copy-paste of the National Conference manifesto. They are from the same group, they are traitors. Congress is also supporting them. We should think about all these issues that they want to make Jammu and Kashmir hell again,” he said.
Gupta specifically opposed their promises to restore Articles 370 and 35A, release stone-pelters from jail, and initiate diplomatic talks with Pakistan. “They want to release those people from jail who used to pelt stones… They are dependent on each other. Congress was wiped out; they are trying to save themselves,” he added.
Gupta argued that these issues are outside their jurisdiction and that the parties are trying to deceive voters.
ANI
