JAMMU/NEW DELHI: Taking a hard line on abrogation of Article 370 and 35A with a promise to ensure that it remains a part of history, the BJP on Friday released its manifesto for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls, announcing 25 promises, including many freebies, Add in ‘ Kisan Samman Nidhi’ from Rs 6,000 per year to Rs 10,000, restoration of more than 100 damaged temples, rehabilitation of displaced Hindus and also a joint drive to deal with illegal Rohingya and Bangladeshi settlements in the area.
Releasing the manifesto, senior BJP leader and Home Minister Amit Shah asserted that Article 370 has been buried forever and the BJP will not allow any attempt to restore it while citing the party’s promise to release a ‘white paper’ on the more than 40,000 murders in J&K and fix responsible.
The statement appeared to target the Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi over the alliance partner’s manifesto National Conferencewhich promised the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A, besides continuing negotiations with Pakistan.
Shah: J&K man statehood will be returned in due time
“I want to ask Rahul Gandhi if he and his party want to revive terrorism, separatism in J&K? Does Rahul support restoration of two flags and Article 370? He won’t answer. But I want to state here that Rahul strongly supports NC manifesto,” he said Shah.
Regarding restoration of statehood to J&K, Shah said as Home Minister, he had promised on the floor of Parliament that statehood would be granted to J&K at an appropriate time after the assembly polls.
“Why ask for what you have already received,” Shah said, adding that it would be restored after the assembly polls. PM Narendra Modi, in an interview in May, said that restoring J&K statehood was a serious promise and he was keeping it.
Reacting to the NC’s promise to restore Article 370, Shah said, “NC’s agenda cannot be implemented on the ground. Article 370 is a thing of the past. It is history.
On the possibility of talks with Pakistan, Shah said talks and terror cannot go together. “We will talk to Kashmiri youth, not Pakistan unless Pakistan stops terrorism,” he said. Answering the question whether trade can start with Pakistan, he said trade is setting the base for terrorism. “So there is no question of trade with Pakistan until terrorism is there,” he said.
The BJP also promised to conduct a free and fair census to ensure proper decision-making, focusing on inclusive development, with targeted interventions for marginalized communities.
Shah promised further development in the BJP, with plans to build 10,000 km of roads and a Metro system if the party is elected to office. The party has promised 20% quota for Agniveers in J&K government jobs and police recruitment, and will follow the J&K reservation policy without affecting the general quota.
“Tourism will also be a major focus,” Shah said, announcing plans to turn Rajouri into a major tourist destination beyond Pahalgam. “We will be able to restore the beauty of Dal Lake and develop new attractions, including an amusement park at Tota Ground in Srinagar,” he said.
Shah also emphasized the BJP’s commitment to women empowerment, asserting that the party’s manifesto is designed to benefit all sections of society in J&K.
The party has promised to undertake reconstruction of Hindu temples and shrines in the ‘Rishi Kashyap Pilgrimage Rejuvenation Drive’ where 100 damaged temples will be restored. It will also develop existing temples, including Shankaracharya Temple (Jyeshteshwara Temple), Raghunath Temple and Marthanda Sun Temple.
The BJP has promised to improve women’s financial security by implementing the ‘Maa Samman Yojana’ to provide Rs 18,000 per year to the most senior woman in each household and two free LPG cylinders per year. It has promised to create 5 lakh job opportunities in the Union Territory and provide Rs 3,000 per year through DBT as travel allowance to students under the ‘Pragati Shiksha Yojana’. The party also promised youth preparing for competitive exams like JKPSC and UPSC to pay coaching fees up to Rs 10,000 for two years.
Releasing the manifesto, senior BJP leader and Home Minister Amit Shah asserted that Article 370 has been buried forever and the BJP will not allow any attempt to restore it while citing the party’s promise to release a ‘white paper’ on the more than 40,000 murders in J&K and fix responsible.
The statement appeared to target the Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi over the alliance partner’s manifesto National Conferencewhich promised the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A, besides continuing negotiations with Pakistan.
Shah: J&K man statehood will be returned in due time
“I want to ask Rahul Gandhi if he and his party want to revive terrorism, separatism in J&K? Does Rahul support restoration of two flags and Article 370? He won’t answer. But I want to state here that Rahul strongly supports NC manifesto,” he said Shah.
Regarding restoration of statehood to J&K, Shah said as Home Minister, he had promised on the floor of Parliament that statehood would be granted to J&K at an appropriate time after the assembly polls.
“Why ask for what you have already received,” Shah said, adding that it would be restored after the assembly polls. PM Narendra Modi, in an interview in May, said that restoring J&K statehood was a serious promise and he was keeping it.
Reacting to the NC’s promise to restore Article 370, Shah said, “NC’s agenda cannot be implemented on the ground. Article 370 is a thing of the past. It is history.
On the possibility of talks with Pakistan, Shah said talks and terror cannot go together. “We will talk to Kashmiri youth, not Pakistan unless Pakistan stops terrorism,” he said. Answering the question whether trade can start with Pakistan, he said trade is setting the base for terrorism. “So there is no question of trade with Pakistan until terrorism is there,” he said.
The BJP also promised to conduct a free and fair census to ensure proper decision-making, focusing on inclusive development, with targeted interventions for marginalized communities.
Shah promised further development in the BJP, with plans to build 10,000 km of roads and a Metro system if the party is elected to office. The party has promised 20% quota for Agniveers in J&K government jobs and police recruitment, and will follow the J&K reservation policy without affecting the general quota.
“Tourism will also be a major focus,” Shah said, announcing plans to turn Rajouri into a major tourist destination beyond Pahalgam. “We will be able to restore the beauty of Dal Lake and develop new attractions, including an amusement park at Tota Ground in Srinagar,” he said.
Shah also emphasized the BJP’s commitment to women empowerment, asserting that the party’s manifesto is designed to benefit all sections of society in J&K.
The party has promised to undertake reconstruction of Hindu temples and shrines in the ‘Rishi Kashyap Pilgrimage Rejuvenation Drive’ where 100 damaged temples will be restored. It will also develop existing temples, including Shankaracharya Temple (Jyeshteshwara Temple), Raghunath Temple and Marthanda Sun Temple.
The BJP has promised to improve women’s financial security by implementing the ‘Maa Samman Yojana’ to provide Rs 18,000 per year to the most senior woman in each household and two free LPG cylinders per year. It has promised to create 5 lakh job opportunities in the Union Territory and provide Rs 3,000 per year through DBT as travel allowance to students under the ‘Pragati Shiksha Yojana’. The party also promised youth preparing for competitive exams like JKPSC and UPSC to pay coaching fees up to Rs 10,000 for two years.