Congress’ J&K manifesto to be released before first phase of polls: Solanki

Jammu, Sep 15: Describing “Congress-NC government a certainty after elections,” AICC Incharge J&K Affairs Bharatsinh Solanki Sunday stated that the party manifesto for J&K assembly polls was ready and would be released in a day or two.

In response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s assertion that statehood to J&K would be granted only by the BJP government, Solanki said, “It was a Jumla. They only make hollow promises. Our question is as to why J&K’s statehood was snatched. What was BJP’s compulsion?” he asked.

While addressing a press conference here at the Congress headquarters, he stated that a Common Minimum Programme (CMP) would be framed after forming an alliance government with the National Conference, which would eventually happen.

“We’re fighting on 90 seats; in addition we have our candidates fighting friendly contests. So we are going to form an alliance government with NC after the elections. Then we will implement all promises of our manifesto, which will be released before the first phase of polling. Notwithstanding our alliance with NC, we will stick to our ideology,” Solanki said.

He said that for the party, people’s welfare, restoration of statehood were more important issues than concerns about seats. Solanki said that Jammu region, hitherto peaceful, became volatile with a spurt in terror attacks after BJP came to power.

“Assembly elections are very crucial in J&K. Whole country and the whole world is watching J&K. Congress has always worked for inclusive growth of J&K. Since for us, Jammu and Kashmir is one entity, we will restore the Darbar Move after coming to power,” he said.

On the issue of reservation, Solanki said that BJP had no clarity about reservation but Congress was very clear that it would strengthen rights of underprivileged.

Regarding the Prime Minister’s statements in his Doda rally on Saturday, Congress leader accused the Prime Minister of “repeating the old rhetoric in Jammu and Kashmir as BJP had nothing new to offer to the people even after ruling for ten years and giving a lot of pain and suffering to them during this period.”

Joined by AICC Secretaries Manoj Yadav and Divya Madema, National Media Coordinator Dolly Sharma, JKPCC senior Vice President and Chief Spokesperson Ravinder Sharma, Solanki described BJP’s manifesto as another “Jumla Pattar.”“Who stopped BJP from implementing all these promises for these sections being offered now. People are not ready to buy the same fake promises again,” he said.

“The youth are facing the highest ever unemployment during the last 45 years. J&K is in second position in unemployment while women unemployment is the highest in J&K in the country. Youth were promised employment boom after abrogation of Article 370, but reverse happened to them,” he alleged. “The pensions of elderly, widows, and handicapped were stopped and they were forced to move from pillar to post to get their pensions revived. The daily wagers, need based and other such temporary employees including Anganwari workers, helpers were lathicharged when they protested,” Solanki said.

He regretted that Prime Minister Modi did not utter a word of sympathy to the families of two soldiers killed and two other injured in the adjoining  district Kishtwar in a terrorist encounter, when he addressed an election rally in Doda.  He reminded that a massive Rs 24000 Cr package for infrastructure and development was announced by Dr Manmohan Singh in 2004 which swelled to over Rs 36000 Cr as a result a lot of power infrastructure and road connectivity was strengthened in Jammu and Kashmir.

“PM and BJP should tell what they did to the Kashmiri displaced community as nothing was done to their issues, after the former PM Dr Manmohan Singh’s package of Rs 1600 Cr for employment, relief and rehabilitation package for them. First time, KP youth got jobs in Kashmir, modern township in Jammu besides transit colonies were constructed in Kashmir Valley,” he said.“We shall carry forward the Manmohan Singh package for them and creation of jobs for them,” he said.

Solanki referred to the “plight of farmers” who, he alleged, had not been given any relief during 10 years.