BJP Unveils J&K Poll Manifesto, Focus On Infra, Employment, Tourism And Temple Restoration: Key Highlights

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched its poll manifesto, Sankalp Patra, for Jammu and Kashmir.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who is on a two-day visit to the state to launch party's election campaign, released the document.

Shah highlighted the progress made under the current government, stating that Article 370 had previously obstructed the implementation of reservations.

He noted that the Modi-led government has introduced reservations for various communities, including OBCs, Gurjars, Bakarwals, and Pahadis, who had been deprived for years.

Shah also announced that a white paper will be issued to fix responsibility of those involved in the emergence of terrorism in J&K.

Here are the key promises made by the party for various sectors in its Sankalp Patra for J&K:

Agriculture: Rs 10,000 will be provided to farmers under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, and electricity costs for agricultural activities will be reduced by 50 per cent.

Employment: 5 lakh jobs will be created for the youth, with a focus on ensuring a fair recruitment process.

Education: College students will receive a Rs 3,000 travel allowance annually under the Pragati Shiksha Yojana, and 1,000 new seats will be added to medical colleges.

Social Welfare: The Maa Samman Yojana will provide Rs 18,000 annually to the eldest woman in every household.

Ujjwala beneficiaries will get two free cylinders per year, and landless families will receive free land under the Atal Housing Scheme.

Pensions for the elderly, widows, and people with disabilities will be tripled.

Infrastructure: The party promised to complete key tunnel projects, construct 10,000 km of rural roads, and launch metro services in Jammu and Srinagar.

Religious and Cultural: Plans include rebuilding and renovation of Hindu temples and religious sites.

Healthcare: Ayushman Bharat Sehat Yojana will offer an additional Rs 2 lakh in healthcare coverage on top of the existing Rs 5 lakh.

Rehabilitation: Efforts will be accelerated to rehabilitate displaced persons.

Tourism: The region will be transformed from a "terrorist hotspot into a tourist destination."

The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly consists of 90 constituencies, with 7 seats reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and 9 for Scheduled Tribes (STs).

In the last election, the People's Democratic Party (PDP) won 28 seats, followed by the BJP with 25, the National Conference (NC) with 15, and Congress securing 12.

Polling in Jammu and Kashmir will be conducted in three phases on 18 and 25 September, and 1 October, the results for which will be declared on 8 October.

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