New Delhi: A day after announcing its office bearers, the Democratic Azad Party led by former Jammu & Kashmir chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has announced its charter of “promises” to the people of the union territory.
The three-month-old party is largely relying on Azad’s 2.5-year tenure as the state’s chief minister, the document, released Sunday, shows.
Azad was the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir from 2005 to 2008.
In his mission document, Azad, who was previously with the Congress until he quit the party in August this year, says: “My government in 2008, although lasted only for two-and-a-half years, did ten times more than what I had promised during elections. Don’t fall prey to false promises. If the public gives us an opportunity, we will bring real change”.
Among the party’s chief promises are “restoration of statehood, land rights and employment to natives”.
For context, the central government abrogated Articles 370 and 35 of the Constitution — a provision that afforded special status to the state, which included its own flag and constitution, and a restriction on the purchase of land in the state — in 2019.
However, the party document doesn’t directly refer to Article 370 — a provision that state parties such as the Peoples’ Democratic Party and the National Conference want reinstated.
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No mention of Article 370
What’s significant about the document, however, is the lack of mention of Article 370.
In addition, the document also refers to employment as a major issue. For context, according to the think-tank Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy, the state’s unemployment levels are the third highest in the country after Haryana and Rajasthan.
R.S. Chib, DAP’s general secretary in charge of media and communications, told ThePrint that much of what the party promises have to do with Article 370.
“There is no need to mention Article 370 directly,” he told ThePrint. “Issues of land rights and employment are linked with Article 370. Our other main issue is the restoration of statehood. If we get these rights, then there is no need to ask for (Article 370).”
Although Azad hasn’t campaigned strongly for the restoration of Article 370, he had earlier told ThePrint, “Article 370 is very important and I’m of the opinion that it was not bad. How can anything that has been part of the Indian constitution for 70 years be bad”.
In addition, apart from promises of safety, security, and peace in the union territory, Azad also proposes making government departments work in double and triple shifts.
In an interview with ThePrint last month, Azad said: “I’ve been a 24×7 chief minister and union minister who would work in triple shifts and make officers work in triple shifts (as well). If given a chance, there will be a revival of double shifts”.
Also among his promises is rooting out the “problem of drug/ narcotics” by setting up drug rehabilitation centres.
DAP’s election promises come at a time when political parties, with the promised assembly elections nowhere in sight, have once again begun outreach programmes.
(Edited by Uttara Ramaswamy)
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