Will restore rights of J&K people on natural resources, land, jobs : Pawan Khera

Baramulla, Sep 17: Senior Congress leader and AICC Chief Spokesperson, Pawan Khera, today said that if voted to power his party will restore the rights of J&K people on natural resources, land and jobs.

He along with another senior lead Salman Soz, visited North Kashmir’s Baramulla district

The senior Congress leaders discussed key points of their manifesto for the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, vowing to restore the region's issues and address issues of unemployment, farmers' rights, and natural resource management.

Pawan Khera stressed that the Congress-NC alliance is committed to restore the identity of Jammu and Kashmir, which was "snatched away" when the region was downgraded from state to union territory. "We have to heal the wounds of the people and bring a new dawn after years of darkness," he said.

Referring to the Congress party's manifesto, Khera described it as "not merely a document but like a religious book" to which congress party will be adhering in toto once it will come in power along with its alliance partner.

During the press conference, Khera outlined a variety of promises aimed at addressing unemployment, farmers' rights, and resource management. He said the youth in Jammu and Kashmir will receive an unemployment allowance of up to Rs 3,500 per month till their employment.

He said their manifesto promises the filling of one lakh vacant government posts, with a job calendar to be issued within 30 days of the Congress-NC alliance assuming power. He said Congress party’s manifesto guarantees a financial assistance for landless, tenant, and land-owning farmers, alongside a minimum support price of Rs 72 per kilogram for apple farmers and crop insurance for natural calamities.

Congress leader said the party vows to restore local rights over minerals, electricity, and other natural resources, which according to Khera are currently being exploited by outsiders. He also promised 100 free electricity units for Below Poverty Line (BPL) families under the "Our Electricity, Our Rights". He said party’s manifesto includes provisions for a 99-year lease for landless farmers cultivating state land and Rs 4,000 annual support for farming households.

On this occasion, Khera strongly criticised the BJP, accusing the party of stripping people of Jammu and Kashmir of its rights on its resources over the past decade. He assured that the Congress-NC alliance is determined to restore these rights, particularly for the youth.

While taking dig at the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Khera cited home ministry data showing 2,075 incidents of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir over the past five years, with 40 percent occurring in the Jammu region alone. He questioned the BJP's claims of normalcy in the region.

He said that Modi sees Rahul Gandhi as his main political threat. "It is Rahul Gandhi who stands like a rock against the BJP’s anti-people policies, while others attempt to bring BJP back to power," Khera said.