Srinagar– Peoples Conference on Thursday promised a judicial commission to probe electoral rigging of 1987.
In its election manifesto, which was released by the party president Sajad Gani Lone and senior leaders today, the party said that it is committed to fight for the pre- 2019 constitutional position for J&K.“ It will support all efforts within and outside the legislative forums to restore the pre-2019 constitutional position of J&K,” reads the party’s manifesto.
The PC, which had challenged abrogation of Article 370 in the Supreme Court, said that “it stands by its commitment to undertake all exhaustive measures to pursue the cause of the restoration of Article 370 and the return of Statehood”.
The party promised setting up a judicial commission to probe rigging of 1987 assembly elections.
“We will set-up a judicial commission to probe the murder of democracy in 1987 and hold its perpetrators accountable. It is our firm belief, that the source of major socio-political instability that continues to mar Kashmir even today, is a derivative of that one cataclysmic event. The Great Robbery of 1987 – that of our rights, our young, our lives and our collective destiny needs to be brought to account,” reads the manifesto.
The PC also committed that it would strive to end arbitrary attachment of properties, destructive demolition drives and unwarranted terminations.
In its manifesto, the party said it “will strive to repeal the Public Safety Act (PSA) and other draconian laws which have been indiscriminately used to punish Kashmiris in the past three decades”.
The party said that it will revive July 13 Martyrs day holiday to safeguard the ethos associated with Kashmiris.
In its manifesto, the party also talked about free electricity to BPL families, land ownership rights to poor dwellers, waiving off KCC loans, fast-track recruitments, revival of old pension scheme, transfer policy for female ReT teachers.
Passing a resolution on Article 370 in the assembly, Lone added, was just a “moral thing” as special status of J-K can only be restored by Parliament.
On the restoration of Article 35A, Lone said such a provision can be partially restored in the J-K assembly if its statehood is restored. “We can pass some parts of it in the assembly here like Himachal Pradesh did,” he said.
“We will all together have to agitate” for the restoration of Article 370, the separatist-turned-mainstream politician said.
“A day should come where we should all agitate as a part of a federal solution. The problem is in the name. They have defamed Article 370 so much that every normal, unsuspecting Indian thinks that it is perhaps a conspiracy against India, which is not.
“It is a federal arrangement, a federal solution, made with many provinces… and across the world, such arrangements have been there for the last 200 years. I believe as Indian democracy evolves, a day will come when we will have a federal solution at par with (Article) 370,” he said.
Asked whether his party will enter into a pre-poll alliance with any other party, Lone said the PC will fight on its own.
He said he would likely contest from two seats ‘“ Handwara and Kupwara in north Kashmir. “I have been contesting from Handwara, but am under pressure from the people of Kupwara segment to contest from there. So, most likely, I will contest from two seats,” he added.
On BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav’s remarks that ex-militants were campaigning for National Conference and People’s Democratic Party, Lone said such statement were made to benefit the National Conference (NC) and Peoples Democratic party (PDP)
“Ram Madhav is not a child. He knows there are 99.9 per cent Muslims here and BJP is seen as an anti-Muslim party. His statements are there to benefit, to help NC and PDP. I will pay him Rs 1 lakh to give such statements against me everyday.
“These statements are meant to maintain status quo. This is all a lie. They have the government, if there is any such thing, then let them take action,” he said.
Madhav used to give such statements in 2014 as well, but after the polls, the BJP formed a coalition government with the PDP, Lone said.
In its manifesto for the assembly polls, the People’s Conference promises to fight for the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A as well as statehood, saying the party will support all efforts within and outside the legislative forums to restore the pre-2019 constitutional position of J&K.
The manifesto also promised to support and facilitate the efforts aimed at the resolution of the Kashmir issue, saying “it is not infinitely intractable and can be arrived at through sincere engagement by all sides”.
The party also promised to strive for the repeal of laws like AFSPA, PSA and Enemy Agents Ordinance and make efforts towards the release of political prisoners.
It also assured to work towards a dignified return of Kashmiri Pandits if elected to power.
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
| ACT NOW |
| MONTHLY | Rs 100 |  |
| YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
| LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |
