J-K polls: Parties rake up issues, make promises

New Delhi: With elections in Jammu and Kashmir due in November, it's the Amarnath land row that's going to be the primary political weapon. It has already taken centre stage for many parties looking to weave their strategies around it, some even roping in the faces of the agitation to strengthen their poll campaign. Here is a look at all the issues that the main parties in the state are going to rake up in the Assembly polls as well as some of the promises that they have made to the people of the state.

BJP AGENDA AND ISSUES

• AMARNATH LAND ROW: BJP would like to keep the issue alive till polls. The party is projecting itself as the only party that supported the land row agitation wholeheartedly and is hoping people will convert their anger and discontent into votes.
• EMPOWERMENT OF JAMMU REGION: The BJP's 16-point manifesto focuses mostly on the alleged discrimination of Hindu-majority Jammu region at the hands of Jammu and Kashmir's dominantly Muslim rulers. BJP recently held a series of "swabhimaan rallies" across the Jammu region. Party leaders are advocating empowerment in all spheres - be it political power, development or employment - for the people of Jammu. BJP says political power for Jammu is the need of the hour.
• DELIMITATION: Parties that have a sway in Jammu are demanding delimitation, which they say is essential to achieve political empowerment. The major reason for friction between Jammu and Kashmir is the number of seats in each region. Kashmir has 46 assembly seats, while Jammu has 37. The reason for this is that the population of Kashmir is more than that of Jammu. However, politicians are now demanding that the discrimination end and that there be 51 seats in Jammu, citing the reason that Jammu has more voter turnout.
• SPECIAL STATUS: The party is against article 370, saying only its abolition would firmly tie Jammu and Kashmir to the rest of India. In the manifesto, the BJP promised to do away with regional imbalances in the state and grant citizenship rights to refugees from Pakistan.
• TERRORISM AND SEPARATISM: The BJP plans to bring in stringent norms and implement "one constitution and one flag".
• EMPLOYMENT: The other key features of the BJP manifesto are employment to jobless youth and Rs 1,000 monthly stipend for unemployed youth.
• DEVELOPMENT: BJP wants to implement the Sixth Pay Commission report, reintroduce tax holiday for industrial units for 10 years, provide free elementary education to all, and improve infrastructure in Jammu, Srinagar and other towns. It wants to set up provincial councils in all three regions with adequate administrative and financial powers.
• WOMEN'S RIGHTS: The party has promised 33 per cent quota for women in the Assembly.

CONGRESS AGENDA AND ISSUES

• AMARNATH LAND ROW: The row has had different repercussions for the Congress. While arch rivals BJP gain by keeping the issue alive in the state, following the fall of the Ghulam Nabi Azad government, Congress leaders from Jammu would hope to undo the damage done to the party by the land row stir.
• DELIMITATION: The Congress, if voted to power, may set up a delimitation commission to redraw the Assembly constituencies. The Congress, which banks on the vote of the people of Jammu had to include Delimitation in its election agenda.
• EMPLOYMENT: The Congress plans to absorb 80,000 unemployed youth in various projects. It plans to revamp the tourism sector as well as the fruit industry and engage more people and develop the state's economy at the same time.
• DEVELOPMENT: In the poll manifesto, the Congress has touched the issue pertaining to development in the sectors of industry, agriculture, education and health, the sources said. It has promised better road connectivity, drinking water and electricity supply besides optimum utilisation of river water for power generation.
• WOMEN RIGHTS: The Congress has, in its poll manifesto, committed itself to women empowerment.
• CROSS-BORDER TIES: It has also supported the ongoing India-Pakistan dialogue for promoting better ties between the two neighbouring countries.

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PDP AGENDA AND ISSUES

• SELF-RULE: PDP feels this is the only "workable and viable" solution for the Kashmir issue. The party will aggressively pursue the self-rule agenda to establish "lasting peace in the region". The party envisages Constitutional restructuring so that Jammu and Kashmir can have an elected governor by rotation from Kashmir and Jammu regions for periods of six years each.
• CROSS-BORDER TIES: The PDP's manifesto highlights the party's stand on peace process in J&K, cross-Line of Control movement of people and trade between the two sides of the state. It calls for creating a free trade zone in Jammu and Kashmir besides use of dual currency in the state.
• EMPLOYMENT: On the development front, the party promises to make it mandatory for agencies executing major projects in the state to employ at least 75 per cent of workers from the state.
• DEVELOPMENT: The party has promised to develop a rapid transport system within three to four years which includes a string of flyovers, aerial expressways, subways and tunnels.
• WOMEN RIGHTS: The manifesto promises to strive for a consensus to grant women adequate reservation in state legislature.

NATIONAL CONFERENCE AGENDA AND ISSUES

• DEVELOPMENT: The impending vision of the National Conference will encompass the political, social and economic ideals enshrined in the Naya Kashmir document. The National Conference government shall try to convince those, who have taken recourse to violence and intimidation as means to achieve their goal.
• GREATER AUTONOMY: The party will fight for the restoration of greater autonomy. The party will fight for the identity of the people of the state and also for their urges and aspirations.
• EMPLOYMENT: The National Conference plans to fight poverty and provide employment opportunities for the youth.