SRI NAGAR: The National Conference, which headed the outgoing coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir, on Tuesday rolled out its poll manifesto. And its highlight of was the party’s assertion that Article 370 granting special status to the state could not be abrogated under any circumstances.
The poll manifesto was released at a function held at the NC headquarters here by party general secretary and member of the outgoing Omar Abdullah Cabinet, Ali Muhammad Sagar. Senior NC leaders, including outgoing Higher Education Minister Mohammad Akbar Lone were present on the occasion. Chief Minister Omar, who is also the working president of the party,though, skipped the event as he was busy campaigning in Jammu.
Referring to Article 370, the NC manifesto said, “Instrument of Accession was signed on October 26, 1947, by Maharaja Hari Singh and the Delhi Agreement of 1952 between the then Prime Minister of India Pt Jawarharlal Nehru and then Prime Minister of J&K and NC founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah. These gave J&K a Special Status within the Constitutional framework of India.”
Taking credit for the inclusion of Article 370 in the Constitution and for its ratification by the J&K Constituent Assembly, the party said, “This Article is the foundation on which the relationship of J&K with the rest of the country is based.”
“Article 370 cannot be abrogated. It cannot be tampered with,”it said, adding that the party will oppose any such attempt.
The manifesto also reiterated that restoration of autonomy is the only viable solution to the Kashmir problem.
“The NC shall strive with renewed vigour to build a consensus in the country on this matter (autonomy) and remind the Centre about the resolution passed by the state Assembly”.
“Our resolution document is lying with the Centre. J&K legislature had passed a Resolution on autonomy in 2000 and it was sent to the then government, led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee,” Sagar said.
“The ball is in the Central government’s court,” he said. On the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), the NC manifesto said Chief Minister Omar has been consistently and vehemently advocating its revocation. The state machinery is geared to deal with any disturbance after AFSPA revocation,” states the manifesto.
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