On Friday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah released the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) manifesto for the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) assembly elections. The manifesto, presented in Jammu, includes 25 promises from the BJP.
Amit Shah stated that Jammu and Kashmir has been crucial for the BJP since the time of independence. He emphasized that the party has always worked to keep this region connected with India. The struggle from Pandit Premnath Dogra to Shyama Prasad Mukherjee was carried forward by the Indian Jana Sangh and later by the BJP. The party believes that Jammu and Kashmir has always been and will always be a part of India.
Amit Shah remarked, “Article 370 and 35A are now part of the past; they are no longer a part of our Constitution. The entire nation and the people of Jammu and Kashmir are relieved, as Article 370 was the link that armed the youth in Kashmir with stones and weapons. Under Modi’s leadership, significant development work has been done in Jammu and Kashmir.”
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He pointed out that until 2014, terrorism and separatism overshadowed Jammu and Kashmir. Previous governments dealt with the region through a policy of appeasement.
From Maximum Terrorism to Maximum Tourism
Amit Shah mentioned that the decade from 2014 to 2024 will be remembered in the history of Jammu and Kashmir. This period will be marked by peace, development, and good governance. During these ten years, the state has shifted from “maximum terrorism” to “maximum tourism.”
He criticized past practices where democracy was limited to three families. Panchayat elections and local government elections were not held. The BJP government has restored Panchayati Raj by conducting elections for village, tehsil, district, and municipal bodies, thus establishing democracy.
Question to Congress and National Conference
Amit Shah also questioned Rahul Gandhi, asking him to clarify whether the Congress party agrees with the agenda of the National Conference. He demanded a clear yes or no answer.
BJP’s 25 Promises
The BJP’s manifesto includes 25 promises for Jammu and Kashmir. These include:
- Free land allocation to landless beneficiaries through the Atal Awas Yojana.
- Tripling of pensions for the elderly, widows, and disabled individuals.
- Reconstruction and renovation of Hindu temples and religious sites.
- Development of basic amenities like electricity and water.
- Transformation of terrorist hotspots into tourist spots.
