Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir): Amid a mass exodus of leaders from the People's Democratic Party ahead of the crucial assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, party President and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday unveiled her party’s manifesto for the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections offering “reconciliation”, trade revival, and the resolution of the Kashmir issue. Mehbooba announced that the PDP would unconditionally support the National Conference (NC) and Congress alliance if they adopt the PDP's agenda, highlighting the party’s commitment to addressing the broader issues facing the region.
“We are releasing our manifesto today, and as usual, since the beginning of PDP, it has started for a cause,” Mehbooba stated at the party headquarters in Srinagar. “We have always worked for resolution and reconciliation. After the abrogation of Article 370, the situation has worsened in Jammu and Kashmir. The Kashmir issue is much bigger than seat sharing, and it still remains unresolved.”
Mehbooba criticized the current political discourse for reducing the Kashmir issue to mere seat sharing and elections. She emphasized that the PDP’s manifesto goes beyond electoral gains, focusing instead on comprehensive reconciliation and restoring trade across the Line of Control (LoC). The manifesto includes a wide array of promises, such as providing 200 units of free electricity to all citizens, relaxing stamp duty for women— a benefit that was rescinded by the government—and imposing a 100 percent import duty on apples to protect local farmers.
“Dialogue, opening of roads and trade were started by the PDP. Jammu and Kashmir is not only about seat sharing, Article 370, or elections, but much more,” Mehbooba remarked. “Our first point in the manifesto is about reconciliation and resolution, along with restoring trade across the LoC. We are also committed to ending the misuse of laws like the Public Safety Act (PSA) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) against civilians and journalists.”
The PDP chief made a strong pitch for an alliance based on a shared agenda for resolving the Kashmir issue under the Indian constitution, rather than just electoral seat adjustments. “Election and seat sharing is not our goal. Jammu and Kashmir have many issues, and we are fighting for dignity,” she said. “If Congress and NC are ready to adopt our stand on resolving the Kashmir issue, we will give up all the seats to them. Their alliance should be on resolving the Kashmir issue, not just on seat sharing.”
Mehbooba also ruled out any post-election alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), reflecting on the fallout of the PDP’s previous coalition with the BJP, which ended following the abrogation of Article 370. “We had forged an alliance with BJP to safeguard the identity of J&K, but with the current situation, an alliance with BJP on the basis of agenda is not possible now,” she asserted.
The PDP manifesto outlines several initiatives aimed at addressing socio-economic issues in Jammu and Kashmir. These include free legal aid for Kashmiris in jails, a special scheme for the transgender community, easing the passport process, and restoring the Durbar Move— a biannual tradition of shifting the capital between Jammu and Srinagar. The manifesto also proposes making Punjabi an official language, offering dedicated budgets for Muharram, and providing scooters for specially-abled individuals.
In closing, Mehbooba reiterated that power is not the PDP’s ultimate goal. “Power is not our goal but addressing the issues of Kashmir is. We are committed to fighting for the dignity of the people and ensuring that the Kashmir issue is resolved in a just and fair manner,” she declared.
