Days after the pre-poll alliance between National Conference and Congress was announced, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President and former chief minister of erstwhile J&K state, Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday said that her party was ready to forge an alliance with them if the coalition partners would accept their agenda, which include the resolution of Jammu and Kashmir.
“We are ready to extend our complete support and won’t field any candidate from any seat if NC-Congress would accept their agenda towards Jammu and Kashmir,” Mehbooba said while addressing a news conference, organized to release the party’s manifesto ahead of the assembly elections.
“Power and seats doesn’t matter for PDP, but in case the party’s agenda is accepted, we will extend our complete support to the alliance in Jammu & Kashmir,” she said as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) when asked about the possibility of PDP’s alliance with NC-Congress.
However, she also rejected the possibilities of alliance with BJP after the elections, saying that the alliance with BJP in the past was aimed to keep them away from snatching the identity and rights of people. “We had forged an alliance with BJP to safeguard the identity of J&K, but when the rights have already been snatched, the alliance with BJP on the basis of agenda is impossible now,” she added.
Moreover, the PDP also released the party’s manifesto today at PDP headquarters during the news conference in which the party has promised to fight for the resolution of Jammu and Kashmir and also ensure the dialogue between the two nations takes place.
She said that the issue of Article 370 and Statehood cannot resolve the issue, but it has further complicated the situation, adding that they will fight for the release of prisoners and ensure they get free legal aid.The party has also promised to reopen the traditional routes here, free 200 units of electricity will be provided if the party is voted to power.
“We will give free electricity up to 200 units, we want to abolish the tax on water, there should be no meters for water. For the poor who have 1 to 6 people in their house, we want to implement the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed scheme again because the rice and ration they get is not enough, so we will give 12 cylinders a year to the poor.
Further we will double the social security like old age pension, widow pension etc,” Mehbooba said.Also, she said that over one lakh vacancies in different departments will be identified within one year to get them filled. Besides, 60,000 daily wagers will be regularized while the honorarium of cooks will be increased to Rs 2500 per month.
The party has promised to fight for the transfer of hydro power projects to Jammu and Kashmir & in case it is not done, the party will fight to ensure that J&K is at least compensated for it.The PDP has also vowed to restore dignity and inclusiveness while the unnecessary harassment to the people on highways will be put to an end. It also promised the returning of Kashmir Pandits and restoring the soul of Kashmir.
Empowerment of tribal communities, infra development, urban infra, special focus on Jammu and Srinagar, revival of handicrafts, empowering farmers and sustainable growth, transforming education and other issues have also been included by the party in its manifesto.She also promised to fight for lifting the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami if elected to power—(KNO)