Jammu-Kashmir BJP President Ravinder Raina Criticizes PDP’s Election Manifesto
Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], August 24: Jammu-Kashmir BJP President Ravinder Raina has strongly criticized the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) over its manifesto for the upcoming elections. Raina accused the PDP, along with the National Conference (NC) and Congress, of trying to incite violence in the region.
The PDP’s manifesto includes efforts to restore Articles 370 and 35A, initiate diplomatic talks between India and Pakistan, and ensure the dignified return of Kashmiri Pandits to the valley. Raina claimed that these parties want the sounds of bombs, guns, bullets, and grenades to continue in Jammu and Kashmir and have always played politics with this issue.
Raina further alleged that the opposition parties are uncomfortable with the peace being gradually restored in the region. He stated that these parties do not have any agenda for the upliftment of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and are only bringing up the manifesto now that they are not in power.
BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Kavinder Gupta, also criticized the PDP’s manifesto, calling it a “copy-paste” of the National Conference’s manifesto. Gupta accused the NC and PDP of being traitors and wanting to make Jammu and Kashmir hell again. He specifically opposed their promises to restore Articles 370 and 35A, release stone-pelters from jail, and initiate diplomatic talks with Pakistan.
Meanwhile, PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti held a press conference after releasing the manifesto and emphasized that her party will only consider alliances with parties that share their agenda for resolving the Kashmir issue. Mufti highlighted that previous alliances, including one with the BJP, were based on a shared agenda, but expressed skepticism about the National Conference and Congress’ current alliance, which she believes is focused solely on seat sharing.
In the 2014 Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, the PDP won 28 votes, the Bharatiya Janata Party won 25 votes, the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference won 15 votes, and the Congress won 12 votes. The PDP and BJP formed a coalition government led by Mufti Mohammed Sayeed. However, in 2018, the BJP withdrew its support from the alliance after Mehbooba Mufti took over following Mufti Mohammed Sayeed’s demise.
The polling in Jammu and Kashmir will be held in three phases on September 18, 25, and October 1, as per the Election Commission of India. The counting of the votes will take place on October 4. These are the first assembly elections to be held in Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370.
Doubts Revealed
BJP -: BJP stands for Bharatiya Janata Party. It is one of the major political parties in India.
PDP -: PDP stands for People’s Democratic Party. It is a political party in Jammu and Kashmir.
Election Manifesto -: An election manifesto is a document where a political party outlines its plans and promises if they win the election.
Articles 370 and 35A -: Articles 370 and 35A were special provisions in the Indian Constitution that gave Jammu and Kashmir a certain degree of autonomy. They were abrogated in 2019.
National Conference (NC) -: National Conference (NC) is another political party in Jammu and Kashmir.
Congress -: Congress refers to the Indian National Congress, one of the oldest political parties in India.
Inciting violence -: Inciting violence means encouraging or provoking people to engage in violent actions.
Kavinder Gupta -: Kavinder Gupta is a leader of the BJP and has also criticized the PDP’s election manifesto.
Mehbooba Mufti -: Mehbooba Mufti is the Chief of the PDP and has emphasized forming alliances to resolve the Kashmir issue.
Abrogation of Article 370 -: Abrogation of Article 370 means the removal of the special status that Jammu and Kashmir had under the Indian Constitution.
Assembly elections -: Assembly elections are elections where people vote to choose their representatives in the state legislative assembly.
