The National Conference announced 12 ‘guarantees’ in its manifesto for the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections, including restoration of Article 370 and statehood to Jammu and Kashmir as well as implementation of the autonomy resolution passed by the then assembly in 2000. Let us remind you that in June 2000, the National Conference government led by Farooq Abdullah passed a resolution in the assembly demanding restoration of the pre-1953 constitutional status in the state. However, the Union Cabinet headed by then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee rejected it. After this, the Narendra Modi government in 2019 repealed the provisions of Article 370 giving special status to Jammu and Kashmir and divided the then state into two union territories – Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
The NC’s manifesto for the upcoming assembly election also promises amnesty for all political prisoners and the honourable return of Kashmiri Pandits to the valley. Other promises made by the party in its election manifesto include 200 units of free electricity, relief from water crisis and providing 12 LPG cylinders free of cost every year to economically weaker sections. The National Conference also promised a comprehensive job package, providing jobs to one lakh youths and filling all vacancies in government departments within 180 days of coming to power.
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Releasing the manifesto at a press conference, NC vice-president Omar Abdullah said the party was making only those promises that it could fulfil. He described the manifesto as the party’s vision document and roadmap for governance. The manifesto said, “We will try to restore Article 370-35A and restore the status of the state as it was before August 5, 2019.”
Let us tell you that elections for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly will be held in three phases. Voting for the 90-member assembly will be held on September 18, September 25 and October 1, while the results will be declared on October 4. The National Conference had formed a committee headed by former Jammu and Kashmir Finance Minister and senior leader Abdul Rahim Rather to draft the manifesto. Other senior leaders including the party’s Srinagar MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi were also included in this committee.
On the other hand, BJP has rejected the manifesto of National Conference calling it a bundle of lies and has said that this time in the assembly elections, the people will hand over power to BJP.
