Ready to support NC-Cong alliance if it accepts PDP agenda: Mehbooba
The Peoples Democratic Party will extend complete support to the Congress-National Conference alliance and leave all seats in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections to the coalition if it is ready to accept the party’s agenda, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said on Saturday.
“If the Congress and the NC are ready to accept our agenda — that resolution of the Kashmir issue is necessary and on opening of routes — we will tell them to contest on all the seats and we will follow you,” she said. “Because, for me, the resolution of the Kashmir problem is much more important than anything else,” she added.
Mehbooba Mufti was talking to reporters following the release of the PDP’s manifesto for the assembly elections. Noting that seats don’t matter to her, she also ruled out any alliance with the BJP, saying, when PDP allied with the BJP, it was based on agenda. “When we allied with the BJP, we had an agenda, which they agreed to. But the alliance between the National Conference and Congress is not happening on the agenda, it is happening on seat sharing,” she said.
Mufti said the party will not talk about any alliance in which there is only talk of seat sharing. “Our agenda is to solve the problem of Jammu and Kashmir, even if it’s under the ambit of the Constitution of India,” she said, adding that abrogation of Article 370 has further complicated the Kashmir problem.
In its manifesto, the PDP, which is also rattled with a series of resignations, said it is “resolute in its pursuit of restoring the constitutional guarantees that were unjustly scrapped, and is committed to restoring Jammu and Kashmir to its original status, ensuring that the voices of its people are heard and their rights are safeguarded.”
According to the party, it would advocate for diplomatic initiatives between India and Pakistan, emphasising conflict resolution, confidence-building measures, and regional cooperation, and establishing full connectivity across the LoC for trade and social exchange, if voted to power.
The manifesto also stated that the party would strive for the opening of old traditional trade routes to central and south Asia through J&K. “It would strive for the revocation of PSA, UAPA and Enemy Act to put an end to unjust arrests of political and social activists, journalists, civil society and concerned citizens,” the party said.
“Committed for the revocation of AFSPA (Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act) and protect the land and employment rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” it said.
Among the other promises, it said that party would provide free 200 units of electricity to every household, free water to every house and it would work to reinstate the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for all government employees, replacing the current National Pension Scheme (NPS).
Transfer of hydro power projects to Jammu and Kashmir, dignified return of Kashmiri Pandits to their homeland, besides work in the sectors of tourism, agriculture, industries, and education has also found space in the PDP manifesto.
It also said the party would “accelerate the process to identify and fill all government vacancies on a fast-track basis within one year.” Recently the National Conference and Apni Party had also released their manifestos ahead of the Assembly poll slated for next month.
