NC to restore Jammu and Kashmir’s right ‘snatched’ in August 2019 if voted to power
19 Aug 2024 1:48 PM GMT
NC Vice President Omar Abdullah. (PTI Photo)
Srinagar: National Conference (NC), Jammu and Kashmir’s oldest mainstream political party, said on Monday that if voted to power in the upcoming Assembly elections it will work towards the restoration of the erstwhile state’s political and constitutional right “snatched” by the Centre in August 2019. It also pledged itself to set all political prisoners free and promised 200 units of electricity free to the consumers of the Union Territory.
“I hope the people of J&K will give us a chance to serve them. We will fight for the restoration of the political and legal status of the J&K. We also promise 200 units of free power to the people of J&K if voted to power,” NC vice president and former chief minister Omar Abdullah said while releasing the party’s election manifesto at a press conference here.
He added, “We also promise to seek release of all political prisoners who aren’t involved in heinous crimes.” The NC manifesto promises to strengthen the public distribution system further and ensure people get sugar and kerosene from ration depots.
Recalling the Centre had told the Supreme Court (SC) in December last year when it delivered its judgement on the petitions that challenged the abrogation of Article 370 that the statehood of J&K will be restored as soon as possible, Mr. Abdullah said, “If Government of India delays it, we will approach the SC and remind it about the Centre's promise.”
Replying to questions, Mr. Abdullah said that it is unfortunate that Jamaat-e-Islami, J&K won’t contest polls openly.
Meanwhile, the newly appointed president of JKPCC Tariq Hameed Karra said on Monday that his party is open to forging alliance with like-minded people or parties for the J&K Assembly elections scheduled to be held in three phases from September 18.
He claimed that the NC has approached the Congress party’s central leadership for a pre-poll alliance.
“As far as the alliance, we are open to like-minded people or the parties to forge an alliance with them,” he said while speaking at a rally held at the Congress headquarters here. He added, “If parties are of the ideas that we must defeat divisive forces and the BJP, they will definitely ally with the Congress. And together we will succeed.”
Mr. Abdullah had earlier this week said that there are bleak chances for pre-poll alliance with any party for the Assembly elections. In an apparent reference to the People's Democratic Party (PDP), he had also said, “There is no chance of any pre-poll alliance with the parties, which targeted us before and after the Lok Sabha elections.”
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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