The Alliance Agenda that Mehbooba is keen to fulfil

CBMs sought by PDP chief remain unaddressed

As the apparent stalemate continues over government formation in Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba is still hopeful of forward movement in the points mentioned in the Agenda of Alliance which paved the way for first ever PDP-BJP government in Jammu and Kashmir on March 1, 2015.

Power project

The PDP chief has asked for return of Dulhasti and Uri hydro power projects to J&K from the NHPC — a demand which was agreed upon by the two parties in the Agenda of the Alliance.“The coalition will explore modalities for transfer of Dulhasti and Uri hydro power projects to J&K as suggested by the Rangarajan Committee Report and the Round Table reports,” stated point number (28) of the document. However, there has been no mention of this particular subject in the economic package.The economic package and Union Budget were also silent on the mutually agreed upon issues of securing a share in the profits of the NHPC emanating from J&K waters for the state government and revising all royalty agreements which were categorically incorporated in the governance document.

Smart cities

A key demand of Mehbooba in the form of CBMs to develop Jammu and Srinagar as “smart cities” remained unaddressed too. Despite making it part of the economic package announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in November, no headway has been made to develop the two capital cities of J&K as ‘Smart Cities’ to date.

Flood relief

“Till such time the new development paradigm takes shape and yields fruits, the coalition government will take specific measures to ease day-to-day life which includes rehabilitation and relief for the flood-affected victims and their families. The Government of India must fully fund the rehabilitation and reconstruction plan,” read point number 36 of the Agenda.However, people continue to wait for financial help to start their life afresh.

Ties with Pakistan

On the political initiatives agreed to by both the parties, PDP was seeking extra CBM measures to normalise the relationship with Pakistan. “The same will be pursued by taking confidence-building measures, such as enhancing people-to-people contact on both sides of the LoC; encouraging civil society exchanges, taking travel, commerce, trade and business across the LoC to the next level and opening new routes across all three regions to enhancing connectivity”, mentioned point numbers 19, 20 and 22 of the document.

Internal stakeholders

Mehbooba wanted to initiate a dialogue with ‘internal stakeholders’ who include the Hurriyat Conference on the pattern of the initiative taken by the earlier NDA government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee.“Following the same principles, the coalition government will facilitate and help initiate a sustained and meaningful dialogue with all internal stakeholders, which will include all political groups irrespective of their ideological views and predilections. This dialogue will seek to build a broad-based consensus on resolution of all outstanding issues of J&K”, the Agenda had mentioned.Vacation of land by ArmyThe alliance document had sought, “All lands other than those given to the security forces on the basis of lease, licences and acquisition under the provision of the Land Acquisition Act shall be returned to the rightful legal owners, except in a situation where retaining the lands is absolutely imperative in view of a specific security requirement. In any case, monetary remuneration, be it in the form of rents or compensation should be made fairly at market rates”. Little headway has been made on this point.

Special status

The PDP is also seeking to maintain the special status of J&K. “While recognising the different positions and appreciating the perceptions the BJP and the PDP have on the constitutional status of J&K, considering the political and legislative realities, the present position will be maintained on all constitutional provisions pertaining to J&K, including the special status in the Constitution of India,” stated point number 10 of the Agenda of the Alliance.