Union Home Minister Amit Shah released the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) election manifesto for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections on Friday. Shah, who is on a two-day visit to Jammu, said that the BJP has always considered Jammu and Kashmir an important region since independence and has made efforts to keep it with India. He added that from 2014 to 2024 was a golden period for Jammu and Kashmir, and that the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A was a historic decision that will not be reversed.
Key points of the BJP’s manifesto for Jammu and Kashmir:
1. Eliminate terrorism and separatism, and make Jammu and Kashmir a leading state in development and progress.
2. Provide ₹18,000 annually to the eldest woman in every household under the Maan Samman Yojana.
3. Assist women self-help groups with bank loan interest.
4. Provide two free LPG cylinders annually to Ujjwala beneficiaries.
5. Create 5 lakh jobs under the PPNDRY scheme.
6. Provide ₹3,000 annually as transportation allowance to college students under the Pragati Shiksha Yojana.
7. Provide ₹10,000 coaching fees for two years for JKPSC-UPSC exam aspirants.
8. Reimburse transportation costs and application fees for exam centers.
9. Provide tablets-laptops to students studying in higher classes.
10. Establish a regional development board in Jammu for the development of Jammu and Kashmir.
11. Promote tourism in Jammu, Dal Lake, and Kashmir.
12. Set up new industries to generate employment.
13. Support existing businesses and small traders by:
– Formulating a new policy to address the issues of 7,000 existing MSME units in Jammu and Kashmir.
– Resolving issues related to lease deeds of small traders and shopkeepers in a time-bound manner.
– Taking strict measures to address the problems of units and laborers.
Other promises include:
– Providing 5 marla land to landless beneficiaries through the Atal Awas Yojana.
– Providing free electricity to families through the PM Surya Ghar Yojana, with a subsidy of ₹10,000 for solar equipment installation.
– Increasing old-age, widow, and disability pension from ₹1,000 to ₹3,000.
– Providing an additional ₹2 lakh health insurance cover under the Ayushman Bharat Sehat Yojana.
– Adding 1,000 new seats in existing and upcoming government medical colleges.
– Providing ₹10,000 under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, in addition to the existing ₹6,000.
– Reducing electricity rates for agricultural activities by 50%.
– Ensuring reservation for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes in government services promotions.
– Formulating a transfer policy for employees, especially in the Kashmir Valley.
– Providing 20% quota to Agniveers in Jammu and Kashmir government jobs and police recruitment, while following the state’s reservation policy.
Amit Shah said that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and will remain so. He also targeted Rahul Gandhi, asking him to clarify whether he supports the National Conference’s manifesto or not.