Will have relook at reservation policy, 200 units free electricity
Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Aug 19: National Conference (NC) today promised the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A as well as the repeal of the Public Safety Act (PSA) among its 12 guarantees to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
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While releasing the manifesto at a press conference here in Srinagar, vice president of the party, Omar Abdullah said the party is making only those promises it can deliver. He described the manifesto as the NC’s vision document and a roadmap for governance for the next five years.
“The manifesto makes 12 broad promises, including striving for the full implementation of the Autonomy Resolution passed by the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly in 2000. We strive to restore (Articles) 370-35A, and Statehood as prior to August 5, 2019,” the document read.
As a part of the restoration of the legal and political status of Jammu and Kashmir, the manifesto stated that the NC will “encourage” dialogue between India and Pakistan. “We advocate Indo-Pak dialogue as the best method to resolve ongoing conflicts. The yearning for peace and progress among the people of Jammu and Kashmir should compel these two nations to foster conditions that will end our miseries and promote better understanding and cooperation in South Asia,” it said.
Reiterating the promise made in its 2014 poll document, the latest NC manifesto pledged that it will strive for the “full implementation” of the resolution passed by the J&K Assembly on autonomy in 2000. “The autonomy resolution, an important milestone in the struggle of the people of Jammu and Kashmir for identity and autonomy in all its dimensions, is of huge Constitutional importance and can still serve as a baseline for addressing internal dimensions of the problem and securing durable peace in the region,” it said.
“The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, in its first list of business after elections, will pass a resolution against the Centre’s decision to strip the region of its Statehood and special status,” read the manifesto.
” The NC will make efforts to modify, annul, and repeal post-August 5, 2019, laws that impact the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. Protect the land and employment rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Formulate a policy to provide land to the landless and those who have been in uninterrupted possession of State lands for an extended period, granting ownership rights under a considered policy. Amend laws to restrict land ownership to actual residents by imposing reasonable restrictions on non-residents,” it read.
The NC also reiterated its position against the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) while promising to protect land laws and employment rights “exclusively for the residents of the Union Territory and a review of all decisions made without the approval of the people”.
The NC stressed on its commitment to the “dignified return and rehabilitation” of Kashmiri Pandits while also proposing the constitution of a “Truth and Reconciliation Commission” to “heal wounds, dispel misconceptions and bridge the divide within communities”.
The party stated that it will seek amnesty for all political prisoners languishing in jails and has also proposed to streamline the verification process for travel documents like passports. It also promised to end the “unjust terminations” of employees across the J&K.
The NC manifesto has promised to prioritise the passing of the Jammu and Kashmir Youth Employment Generation Act, aimed at providing one lakh jobs, within three months of coming to power.
The party has also pledged to fill all vacancies in Government departments within 180 days of assuming power. “We promise to provide 1 lakh jobs in the Government sector and formal scheme driven ventures,” the document stated, while also promising a relook at the reservation policy and removal of injustice and imbalance.
Another key promise that the party has made is the transfer of hydroelectric projects to J&K while also promising 200 free units of electricity and a one-time settlement for electricity bill arrears in both rural and urban areas.
“Steps will be taken to get the free power ratio raised from present 10 percent to 40 percent to augment the domestic power supply,” it read.
It has also promised a monthly assistance of Rs 5,000 to female heads of households falling under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) while increasing the monthly allocation of rice to 10 kg per person from the current 5 kg.
It has also promised 12 free gas cylinders per year to EWS.
“We will provide free drinking water to each household. We shall Give special attention to far and inaccessible areas of Jammu and Kashmir and ensure supply of drinking water to them. We shall ensure proper utilisation of funds that come under Jal Jeevan Mission and plug all the loopholes that have been exploited in recent years,” the document read.
The party has promised restoration of autonomy of Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, formulation of a comprehensive State Health Policy, creation of a Medical Trust with a free insurance cover of 5,00,000 per annum for terminal diseases like cancer, heart and kidney transplants, create a state of art cancer hospital, establish Village and Mohalla Clinics for basic healthcare and emergency care, provide Dialysis in all SDH centres across J&K and provide diagnostic and Imaging services in all District hospitals.
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