Srinagar, Sep 5 (UNI) The manifesto of Jammu & Kashmir Peoples Conference, which is released on Thursday, pledged to fight for the restoration of Article 370 and 35 A, resolution of Kashmir issue, probe into the “rigging” of 1987 elections, scrapping of “draconian” laws, release of prisoners, rehabilitation of victims of violence and fast track recruitment.
The manifesto was released by party president Sajad Lone on a day when the filing of nomination papers for the second phase of Assembly election in J&K will come to an end.
On the restoration of J&K special status that was scrapped by Narendra Modi government on August 5, 2019, the PC manifesto said the party is committed to fight for restoration of Article 370 and 35-A.
It said that the PC would also fight for restoration Statehood of Jammu & Kashmir.
“It will support all efforts within and outside the legislative forums to restore the pre-2019 constitutional position of J&K,” the manifesto said.
“JKPC stands by its commitment to undertake all exhaustive measures to pursue the abrogation of Article 370 by the BJP-led Union government in 2019… We firmly believe that a day will come when both Article 370, Article 35-A along with Statehood will be handed back to the people of J&K with the dignity they deserve,” it said.
Lone’s party also said the key to peace and prosperity was not only in J&K but the entire region lies in an amicable resolution of the Kashmir issue which takes into account the aspirations of its main stakeholders the people of Kashmir.
“…We would encourage, support and facilitate any initiative aimed at peace-building and conflict-resolution which can lead to a durable resolution of the Kashmir Issue. We believe an approach of addressing “low-hanging fruit” first, the most easily resolved issues, can be the grounds for creating confidence building measures as a possible way forward. Great Power comes with greater responsibility and magnanimity,” the manifesto said.
The party also promised to probe the alleged rigging in 1987 elections.
“We need a Special Judicial Commission to ascertain the context and causes of the 1987 election rigging in J&K that became an inflection point leading to violence. The seismic event struck at the very core of Kashmir’s socio-political and ideological order, creating a vicious cycle of violence and destruction in its trail.
Almost forty years on and the loss of life of almost one lakh hapless Kashmiris, there is still no delivery of justice and a means of closure for its victims. We will set-up a judicial commission to probe the murder of democracy in 1987 and hold its perpetrators accountable,” the PC manifesto said.
The PC manifesto talks about ending the blacklisting of Kashmiris for jobs, passports and contracts.
“The inhuman practice of blacklisting of Kashmiris by security agencies which bars them from getting jobs, passports and government contracts is regrettable. It is ironic that an entire family is blacklisted and held accountable for the misconduct of a single member of the family. Each case should be taken up on individual merit without affecting the future course of its now third and fourth generations. We believe reconciliation and rapprochement is the way forward,” the manifesto said.
The PC manifesto also talked about ending attachment of properties and terminations of employees.
The party also proposes a rehabilitation policy for orphans and widows of Kashmir, specifically tailored for their integration into society.
The party also promised to repeal the Public Safety Act (PSA) and other draconian laws which have been indiscriminately used to punish Kashmiris in the past three decades.
“We will also undo the amendments made during the Governor Rule in 2018 to imprison natives of Jammu & Kashmir in jails outside the State,” the manifesto said. “We will additionally pursue the repeal of the stringent Enemy Agents Ordinance and the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.”
The party also promised to strive for release of political prisoners and amnesty to the youth arrested on charges of disturbing law & order.
On the development front, the party promised free electricity to families living below poverty line and catchment area around the power projects.
The party also promised a fast track recruitment process.
