NEW DELHI: Following the pre-poll announcement of allying with the Congress and the National Conference (NC) ahead of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections on Thursday, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Amit Shah slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on his stand on the reservation policy, which does not align with the NC’s manifesto for the upcoming polls. Taking to X on Friday, Amit Shah shared a photo of the NC’s manifesto for the Jammu and Kashmir assembly, which stated that the NC would strive “to restore 370-35A, and statehood as prior to August 5, 2019.” “The Modi govt ended years of discrimination against Dalits, tribes, Pahadis, and backward communities by granting them reservations after the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A,” Shah said. He questioned Rahul Gandhi if he supports the NC’s manifesto, “which calls for abolishing reservations for Dalits, Gujjars, Bakerwals, and Pahadis.” “After allying with the National Conference, he should now clarify the Congress Party’s stand on reservation policy,” Shah further stated. On August 19, party Vice President Omar Abdullah launched the NC’s manifesto, which includes huge promises like the restoration of Article 370, 35A and statehood, redrawing the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 and the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits. Before its abrogation, Article 370 of the constitution “granted Kashmir autonomy of internal administration, allowing it to make its own laws in all matters except finance, defence, foreign affairs and communications.” Whereas, Article 35 A “empowered the State Legislature of Jammu and Kashmir to define “permanent residents” of the state along with granting them special privileges.” On Thursday, Congress and the NC announced a pre-poll alliance and said that seat-sharing talks are currently underway. The pre-poll alliance was announced soon after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and party chief Mallikarjun Kharge met NC chief Farooq Abdullah. After the meeting, Farooq said that the Congress-NC would fight for all 90 seats in the assembly polls. The formal announcement of the tie-up was made by NC patron Farooq Abdullah in Srinagar. “United we stand,” JKNC posted on X. The announcement was made after Farooq Abdullah and his son Omar met Kharge and Rahul Gandhi. “Congress and we (NC) are together. Tarigami sahab (CPM’s M.Y. Tarigami) is also with us. I hope that our people are with us so that we can win and do better for the people. The alliance has been finalised and by this evening the details of seat-sharing will be announced. The Alliance is for 90 seats,” Farooq Abdullah said. “People have suffered much in the last 10 years. Statehood is the prime concern for us. And we want all the powers of the state. Our common program is to fight divisive forces. Our doors are open for all, let’s first win the election. My heart is happy today,” the NC patron added. The Congress and the NC had fought the Lok Sabha elections in alliance with each other. The National Conference won two seats–Anantnag and Srinagar. The Congress could not win any seats. Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be held in three phases on September 18, 25 and October 1. The results will be announced on October 4. The Election Commission has issued notification for the first phase of assembly seats for 24 seats. This is the first assembly poll in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370.
