Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday said that the party was committed to abrogate Article 370 and Article 35A of the Indian constitution, granting special status to Jammu and Kashmir.The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Monday released its manifesto for 2019 Lok Sabha elections which will start later this week, on April 11.Titled ‘Sankalp Bharat Sashakt Bharat’ the BJP manifesto is what the party promises to implement if voted back to power.“In the last five years, we have made all necessary efforts to ensure peace in Jammu and Kashmir through decisive actions and firm policy. We are committed to overcoming all obstacles that come in the way of development and provide adequate financial resources to all the regions of the state. We reiterate our position, since the time of the Jan Sangh, to the abrogation of Article 370,” the BJP Lok Sabha election manifesto reads.
The BJP manifesto also talks about annulling Article 35A of the Constitution of India. Article 35A provides special rights and privileges to the permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir.
The BJP manifesto says that the NDA government has made all necessary efforts to ensure peace in Jammu and Kashmir and is committed to overcome all obstacles that come in the way of development in the state.The BJP manifesto says that Article 35A is an obstacle to the development of the state and hence needs to go.The BJP manifesto reads, “We are committed to annulling Article 35A of the Constitution of India as the provision is discriminatory against non-permanent residents and women of Jammu and Kashmir. We believe that Article 35A is an obstacle in the development of the state. We will take all steps to ensure a safe and peaceful environment for all residents of the state.”The BJP also promises to ensure that Kashmiri Pandits who had to flee Jammu and Kashmir in the 1990s due to militancy would return safely and the government would also provide financial help to the refugees to settle.“We will make all efforts to ensure the safe return of Kashmiri Pandits and we will provide financial assistance for the resettlement of refugees from West Pakistan, Pakistan administered Kashmir (PAK) and Chhamb,” reads the BJP Lok Sabha election manifesto.