Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief, Mehbooba Mufti, along with other party leaders, released the PDP’s manifesto in Srinagar, making significant promises aimed at pulling Jammu and Kashmir out of its current challenges, especially after the abrogation of Article 370.

Mehbooba Mufti, in her address, highlighted the complexities that have emerged since the abrogation of Article 370, saying, “The issue has become even more complicated after the removal of Article 370. We will take Jammu and Kashmir out of the quagmire of difficulties.” She also criticised the government’s actions, stating, “You arrest any religious leaders or activists, suppressing freedom of expression.”

The manifesto includes several socio-economic pledges aimed at alleviating the hardships faced by the people. Mufti announced, “We will provide free electricity up to 200 units, abolish water taxes, and there should be no water meters. We will also offer a one-time settlement for old electricity bills. For the poor, we will implement the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed scheme again, providing 12 cylinders a year… We will double social security benefits like old age pensions and widow pensions. We will ensure that all government jobs are filled, and temples and gurdwaras will receive free electricity.”

She also pledged to work towards the dignified return of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley, stressing that her party will do whatever is necessary to facilitate their return.

Mehbooba Mufti clarified the broader objective of the elections, stating, “For me, this election is not for statehood or seat sharing… We have a bigger goal… We are fighting for dignity, for the resolution of the Kashmir issue.”

On alliance with NC and Congress, Mufti remarked, “Alliance and seat sharing are faraway things. If the National Conference and Congress are ready to adopt our agenda, we will say they should contest on all seats, we will follow them because for me solving the problem of Kashmir is more important than anything else… When we allied earlier also, we had an agenda, when we allied with the BJP, we had an agenda which they agreed to but the alliance between the National Conference and Congress is not happening on the agenda, it is happening on seat sharing.”

#WATCH | J&K: PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti says, “Alliance and seat sharing are faraway things. If the National Conference and Congress are ready to adopt our agenda, we will say they should contest on all seats, we will follow them because for me solving the problem of Kashmir is… pic.twitter.com/nllk8ld225

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“We will not do any alliance in which there is only talk of seat sharing. The alliance should be on agenda and our agenda is to solve the problem of Jammu and Kashmir,” she remarked.