J&K elections: Sajad Lone promises restoration of Article 370, statehood & probe into 1987 elections in People's Conference manifesto
Sajad Lone on Thursday released a party manifesto promising to fight for the restoration of Article 370, 35 (A), statehood and setting up a judicial commission to probe into the rigging of 1987 elections.
Lone released a 12 point manifesto here is Srinagar and claimed that the party plans to field its candidates on 20 to 25 seats in the upcoming three-phased assembly elections in 90 constituencies, starting from September 18. Lone himself is likely to fight on two constituencies of Handwara and Kupwara in northern Kashmir.
“Our main focus of the manifesto is dignity and development. We will undertake all exhaustive measures to pursue the cause of restoration of Article 370, 35 (A) and statehood,” said Lone. He further said that the political parties will have to unitedly agitate for restoration of Article 370. “I also feel that Article 370 has been defamed and blemished for ever. I hope that a day will come when J&K will have a solution at par with Article 370,” he said.
The PC chief lost the last Lok Sabha elections from Baramulla constituency in northern Kashmir to jailed Awami Ittehad Party leader Engineer Rashid. His party won two seats in the last assembly elections in 2014 and he was a minister in the BJP-PDP coalition government in the erstwhile state of J&K between 2015-2018.
Lone also mentions resolution of the Kashmir issue in its manifesto stating that the lack of leadership in the two capitals of New Delhi and Islamabad has resulted in this protracted conflict reiterating that his party will play a
