Omar Abdullah’s Party Manifesto Focuses on Restoring J&K Statehood

The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference has released its election manifesto, outlining its promises for the restoration of autonomy, repealing the Public Safety Act, and the release of political prisoners, among other issues. Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who unveiled the manifesto, expressed the party’s commitment to fighting for the political and legal status of the former state.

He emphasized that despite the time it may take, the party will work towards the restoration of Article 370. The National Conference’s first objective, if elected to power, is the restoration of statehood, followed by a fight for the state’s legal and constitutional status.

Mr. Abdullah stated that if the Centre does not restore the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir promptly, the party will seek recourse to the Supreme Court for the implementation of its directions on statehood. In its political agenda, the manifesto mentions the party’s commitment to strive for the implementation of the autonomy resolution passed by the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly in 2000.

The resolution had sought greater autonomy and the restoration of the pre-1953 status when the Centre had limited control over the state. However, it was rejected by the Central government.

The manifesto also addresses the repeal of the Public Safety Act, which allows police to detain individuals for up to two years without a trial. The party has promised to release all political prisoners held over the past five years and tackle the issue of unemployment by providing one lakh jobs to young people in Jammu and Kashmir.

Furthermore, the manifesto outlines plans to provide 200 units of free electricity and 12 cooking gas cylinders free of cost to families belonging to Economically Weaker Sections. Mr. Abdullah emphasized that the manifesto is not just an election document, but an agenda for governance for the next five years.