Srinagar: Emphasising that “Article 370 is part of history and will never come back”, Union Home Minister Amit Shah released the BJP’s manifesto for the Jammu and Kashmir elections with a pledge to “wipe out terrorism and separatism” from the Union Territory.
Referring to the National Conference’s poll manifesto that calls for the restoration of Article 370, Mr. Shah reiterated, “Article 370 has been buried forever. The BJP won’t allow the efforts aimed at its restoration. It will not come back.”
Mr. Shah questioned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s stance on the NC’s manifesto, given that the two parties are allies. “Mr. Rahul must explain as to whether he and his party supports the NC manifesto. It promises restoration of Article 370, release of stone pelters and prisoners involved in promoting secessionism. I want to ask Rahul, do he and his party want the revival of terrorism and separatism in J&K?” he asked.
No talks with Pak
On J&K’s Statehood, which did not find any mention in the BJP’s manifesto, Mr. Shah said, “On the floor of the Parliament, I have said that Statehood will be granted to J&K at an appropriate time after Assembly polls. Why demand something that has already been accepted?”
Mr. Shah ruled out talks with Pakistan, saying that “talks and terror can’t go together”. He added: “No question of trade with Pakistan till terrorism is there. We will talk to the youth of Kashmir not Pakistan unless the country stops terrorism.”
‘Golden period post-2014’
“J&K, since Independence, has been important for the BJP. We have always tried to keep this land intact with India. J&K has always been part of India and it will remain so. Till 2014, J&K always remained in the shadow of separatism and terrorism. Different State and non-State actors kept the State unstable,” Mr. Shah said.
Previous governments had dealt with J&K with “a policy of appeasement”, he said, adding, “Whenever the history of J&K will be written, these ten years after 2014 will be marked as a golden period.”
He also targeted the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the BJP’s former ally, saying that J&K had been plagued by separatism and terrorism till 2014. “We also saw Hurriyat-backed governments in J&K,” he added, ruling out any possibility of a BJP alliance with the NC, the PDP, or the Congress to form the government in J&K.
Kashmiri Pandit rehab
The BJP manifesto contains 25 promises to work towards a “new J&K”. The party has reached out to marginalised sections of the society and Kashmiri Pandits, who migrated from the Kashmir valley in the face of militancy in the 1990s. The BJP plans to publish a white paper and ensure accountability for all victims of terrorism and “set up fast track cases, bring justice to the victims and ensure rule of law in the region”, the manifesto said.
“To ensure the safe return and rehabilitation of the Kashmiri Pandit community, we will launch the Tika Lal Taploo Visthapit Samaj Punarvas Yojana (TLTVSPY). We will undertake the reconstruction of Hindu temples and shrines under Rishi Kashyapa Pilgrimage Rejuvenation Drive,” it said.
The BJP also plans to restore 100 ruined temples and further develop existing temples, including the Shankaracharya Temple (Jyeshteshwara Temple), Raghunath Temple, and Marthanda Sun Temple, with the active participation of religious and spiritual organisations, the manifesto said.
The manifesto calls for “a concerted drive to address illegal Rohingya and Bangladeshi settlements in J&K”. It promised to expedite the rehabilitation of refugees from the erstwhile West Pakistan, and from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, as well as internally neglected communities such as the Valmikis and Gorkhas.
“We will ensure that the displaced persons of Jammu division get all the due benefits, security and protection that the displaced persons from Kashmir are given,” it said.
Focus on youth
The BJP promised to conduct a free and fair census, “unlike yesteryears, thereby ensuring proper decision making, focusing on inclusive development, with targeted interventions for marginalised communities.”
The manifesto includes a special focus on women and youth and their financial security and self-reliance. The BJP promised to provide ₹18,000 per year to the seniormost woman in every household in J&K under the Maa Samman Yojana, as well as soft loans for women self-help groups, and two free LPG cylinders every year to Pradhan Mantri Ujjawala Yojana beneficiaries.
For the unemployed and youth, the manifesto vowed to “create five lakh employment opportunities” through the Pandit Prem Nath Dogra Rozgar Yojana (PPNDRY). “We will provide ₹3,000 yearly through [direct benefit transfer] DBT as travel allowance to college students under the Pragati Shiksha Yojana,” it said. The manifesto promised to “ensure fair and just recruitment processes”, and provide a reimbursement of coaching fees to the tune of ₹10,000 for two years and reimbursing travel costs to examination centres and one-time application fees. “We will provide tablets/laptops to students studying in higher secondary classes in remote areas,” it added.
The party is fielding candidates from all the seats of the Jammu region and also in the Kashmir valley, where it had decided not to field any candidates during the Lok Sabha election earlier this year.
