After the Congress and National Conference announced their alliance for the upcoming Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma criticised the National Conference manifesto on Saturday. He described it as “anti-India and a pro-Pakistani document,” noting that the manifesto explicitly supports engaging in constructive dialogue with Pakistan.
“National Conference manifesto, first they have said that they will restore Article 370 and Article 35 A of the Constitution of India. National Conference manifesto has clearly said that they are for constructive dialogue with Pakistan. They have also said that they want to have trade with Pakistan and those who were involved in the stone pelting and various heinous crimes against the civilians and Police, will be taken back to the government service. The National Conference manifesto has also said that they will withhold or they will discontinue the reservation given to the Dalits, Gujars, Bakarwals and Pahari communities. They have also said that they will continue to patronise directly or indirectly, the separatist voices. So under these circumstances, if Congress joined hands with the National Conference, it is presumed that Congress has endorsed the National Conference manifesto and it is nothing but an anti-India document. It is a pro-Pakistani document. It is a document of a few fundamentalists,” Sarma said.
He added that Congress is opposed to India’s interests and will persist in their stance against the nation’s well-being.
“They are undermining the heroic sacrifice of our armed forces. I think Congress stands exposed today. Congress was against the interests of India. They are against the interests of India and they will continue to be against the interests of this great nation,” he added.
In their election manifesto, the PDP pledged to work towards restoring Articles 370 and 35A, pursue diplomatic initiatives between India and Pakistan, and ensure the respectful return of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley.
According to the manifesto, PDP “is resolute in its pursuit of restoring the constitutional guarantees that were unjustly scrapped and is committed to restoring Jammu & Kashmir to its original status, ensuring that the voices of its people are heard and their rights are safeguarded.”
The party also promised to advocate “diplomatic initiatives between India and Pakistan, emphasising conflict resolution, confidence-building measures, and regional cooperation” and the establishment of “full connectivity across the LoC for trade and social exchange.”
According to the Election Commission of India, polling in Jammu and Kashmir will take place in three phases on September 18, September 25, and October 1. Vote counting is scheduled for October 4. These will be the first Assembly elections in Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370.