The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday unveiled its poll manifesto for the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections in the presence of Union home minister Amit Shah.
Jammu & Kashmir BJP chief Ravinder Raina and other party leaders were also present at the event.
Speaking at the manifesto release, Amit Shah said, “Since Independence, the issue of Jammu and Kashmir has remained important for our party, and we've always tried to keep this region with India.”
"From Pandit Prem Nath Dogra's struggle to Syama Prasad Mookerjee's sacrifice, this struggle was taken forward first by Jana Sangh and then by the BJP because we believe that Jammu and Kashmir has always been a part of India and will remain so," he added.
The Union home minister also addressed the longstanding issues of terrorism and separatism in the region, saying Jammu and Kashmir faced destabilisation by various state and non-state actors until 2014.
"All other governments did politics of appeasement to deal with the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. However, whenever the history of India and Jammu and Kashmir is written, the period between 2014 and 2024 will be written in golden words," Shah added.
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{{/usCountry}}Also Read | Farooq Abdullah claims Article 370 abrogation failed to control terrorism in Kashmir
{{/usCountry}}Hitting out at the manifesto of the National Conference and the "mute support" by its ally Congress, Amit Shah asserted that Article 370 "is history, it will never return, and we won't let it happen."
“Article 370 was the thing that gave weapons and stones in the hands of the youth...”
The BJP has promised ₹18,000 per year to the eldest woman in every family under 'Maa Samman Yojana' if voted to power in J&K.
“We will give two free cylinders under the Ujjwala scheme, per year. Under Pragati Shiksha Yojana, we will provide ₹3,000 to college students per year, as a travelling allowance.”
The BJP will ensure the complete eradication of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, Shah said.
The home minister also promised to bring a white paper to fix the responsibility of those involved in the emergence of terrorism in the region.
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Students in remote areas will receive tablets or laptops, while college students will benefit from a ₹3,000 yearly travel allowance under the Pragati Shiksha Yojana, according to BJP's 25-point manifesto.
A Special Economic Zone (SEZ) for IT at Jammu City, an amusement park in Srinagar, and the development of Gulmarg and Pahalgam as modern tourist destinations will be the key elements of economic growth and infrastructure development in the Union territory.
The party aims to develop the Tawi Riverfront in Jammu, modelled after Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati Riverfront, and to promote water sports and tourism around Dal Lake in Srinagar.
For small traders and MSMEs, the BJP has pledged to resolve existing issues around land access, utility services, and lease deeds. These measures are expected to boost local businesses and support economic growth.
The manifesto promises relief from outstanding electricity and water bills, free electricity under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, and drinking water through the ‘Har Ghar Nal Se Jal’ scheme. In addition, the BJP pledges to triple pensions for the elderly, widows, and the disabled, from ₹1,000 to ₹3,000, ensuring a life of dignity for vulnerable groups.
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The BJP also aims to expand the Ayushman Bharat Sehat Scheme, increasing coverage by an additional ₹2 lakhs, and promises to add 1,000 new medical seats to government colleges, reflecting its commitment to affordable healthcare.
The BJP has outlined various measures to support farmers, including increasing the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi payout by ₹4,000, bringing the total annual benefit to ₹10,000. Electricity tariffs for agricultural activities will be reduced by up to 50%, and the manifesto includes plans to build 10,000 kilometres of new rural roads under the ‘Har Tunnel Tez Pahal’ Yojana, improving connectivity in the region.
The BJP also promised the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits under the Tika Lal Taploo Visthapit Samaj Punarvas Yojana, while also expediting support for refugees from Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir (POJK) and internally neglected groups like the Valmiki and Gorkha communities.
A concerted drive to remove illegal Rohingya and Bangladeshi settlements from Jammu and Kashmir is another priority in BJP's plan.