SRINAGAR: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti vowed Saturday to “completely support” the National Conference (NC)-Congress alliance in the J&K assembly polls if the partners accept her party’s agenda, primarily resolution of the Kashmir issue.
Mehbooba was speaking while releasing PDP’s manifesto, which promised among other things to revoke the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami and take steps to ensure the return of its confiscated properties.The document did not spell out the specifics of how the ban would be lifted.
Mehbooba’s statement on backing the NC-Cong combine comes days after PDP named some candidates for the three-stage polls from Sept 18-Oct 1, the first since J&K’s special status was revoked in 2019. Before that, the PDP chief had announced that her party would contest all 90 seats.
“Forget about alliance and seat-sharing, if Congress and NC are ready to accept our agenda — resolution of Kashmir issue and opening of routes — we will tell them to contest on all seats,” Mehbooba said. The reference to routes was roads to PoK for trade and movement of people. These have been closed for over a decade.
Mehbooba ruled out any post-poll alliance with BJP, with which her PDP had tied up in 2014 to form the govt. “We had forged an alliance with BJP to safeguard the identity of J&K but now there is no possibility of that,” she said.
Mehbooba challenged the NC-Congress combine to adopt PDP’s stand on resolving the Kashmir issue. “J&K issue isn’t a matter of 370 or statehood or seat sharing. It is a human issue which needs to be addressed.”
According to Mehbooba, the dignity of J&K people “was being trampled on”. “NC and Congress have not entered into an alliance on any agenda but for seat-sharing. Our alliance should be based on an agenda — to find the resolution to the J&K issue… No doubt within the Constitution of this country but a resolution,” Mehbooba said.
PDP’s manifesto pledges to pursue steps to restore J&K’s statehood, revoke stringent laws like the Enemy Agents Act, Public safety Act and Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, and Armed Forces Special Powers Act (Afspa).
The manifesto also pledges toprovide 200 units of electricity free, introduce a new food security scheme, open trade routes with PoK, and support Kashmiri Pandits with housing and land. It also advocates resumption of diplomatic initiatives with Pakistan.
Mehbooba was speaking while releasing PDP’s manifesto, which promised among other things to revoke the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami and take steps to ensure the return of its confiscated properties.The document did not spell out the specifics of how the ban would be lifted.
Mehbooba’s statement on backing the NC-Cong combine comes days after PDP named some candidates for the three-stage polls from Sept 18-Oct 1, the first since J&K’s special status was revoked in 2019. Before that, the PDP chief had announced that her party would contest all 90 seats.
“Forget about alliance and seat-sharing, if Congress and NC are ready to accept our agenda — resolution of Kashmir issue and opening of routes — we will tell them to contest on all seats,” Mehbooba said. The reference to routes was roads to PoK for trade and movement of people. These have been closed for over a decade.
Mehbooba ruled out any post-poll alliance with BJP, with which her PDP had tied up in 2014 to form the govt. “We had forged an alliance with BJP to safeguard the identity of J&K but now there is no possibility of that,” she said.
Mehbooba challenged the NC-Congress combine to adopt PDP’s stand on resolving the Kashmir issue. “J&K issue isn’t a matter of 370 or statehood or seat sharing. It is a human issue which needs to be addressed.”
According to Mehbooba, the dignity of J&K people “was being trampled on”. “NC and Congress have not entered into an alliance on any agenda but for seat-sharing. Our alliance should be based on an agenda — to find the resolution to the J&K issue… No doubt within the Constitution of this country but a resolution,” Mehbooba said.
PDP’s manifesto pledges to pursue steps to restore J&K’s statehood, revoke stringent laws like the Enemy Agents Act, Public safety Act and Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, and Armed Forces Special Powers Act (Afspa).
The manifesto also pledges toprovide 200 units of electricity free, introduce a new food security scheme, open trade routes with PoK, and support Kashmiri Pandits with housing and land. It also advocates resumption of diplomatic initiatives with Pakistan.