Congress promises statehood, 24x7 power
The Congress on Monday released its manifesto for the Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, promising a slew of welfare measures for farmers, women and the youth. It promised to give back statehood to the Union Territory if elected.
“Our goal is to defeat the forces of obscurantism and bigotry…It is our sacred duty to fight divisive forces. The Congress party has no difficulty in cooperating with like-minded parties towards this goal,” the manifesto said.
Apart from promising that it will restore the 149-year tradition of Summer and Winter Capitals in Srinagar and Jammu respectively by passing in the first resolution of the first Assembly session in favour of the Durbar Move, the party has said if it is elected to power, will restore the Legislative Council and will hold Panchayat and Urban local Body (ULB) elections under the 73rd & 74th Constitutional amendments at the earliest.
It promised 24 x 7 electricity across Jammu & Kashmir while announcing it free electricity up to 100 units per month for BPL households.
“We will consider the demand to create a PoJK Displaced Persons (DP) and Refugees Board and confer all rights on DPs from 1947, 1965 and 1971 and West Pakistan refugees,” the manifesto said.
The party said it will fill 1 lakh vacant government posts and provide a job calendar within the first 30 days to fill them.
The party also promised to restore the Legislative Council and hold Panchayat and Urban Local Body (ULB) polls under the 73rd & 74th Constitutional amendments. The party said it will provide Rs 25 lakh health insurance coverage, including treatment, diagnostics and medicines.
