"Copy-paste of National Conference": BJP leader Kavinder Gupta slams PDP's manifesto

Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], August 24 : BJP leader and former Deputy CM of Jammu and Kashmir Kavinder Gupta on Saturday criticised the Peoples Democratic Party's (PDP) election manifesto, calling it a "copy-paste" of the National Conference's (NC) manifesto.
Speaking to ANI, Gupta said they (NC and PDP) are traitors and they want to make Jammu and Kashmir hell again.
"This is a copy-paste of the National Conference manifesto. They are from the same group, they are traitors. Congress is also supporting them. We should think about all these issues that they want to make Jammu and Kashmir hell again," he said.
PDP released its manifesto today, which mentions efforts to restore Articles 370 and 35A and diplomatic initiatives between India and Pakistan and ensure dignified return of Kashmiri Pandits to the valley.
Gupta specifically opposed their promises to restore Articles 370 and 35A, release stone-pelters from jail, and initiate diplomatic talks with Pakistan.
"They want to release those people from jail who used to pelt stones... They are dependent on each other. Congress was wiped out; they are trying to save themselves," he added.
Gupta argued that these issues are outside their jurisdiction and that the parties are trying to deceive voters.
Meanwhile, after releasing the manifesto, Peoples Democratic Party Chief Mehbooba Mufti held a press conference and emphasised that her party will only consider alliances with parties that share their agenda for resolving the Kashmir issue.
"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, said the PDP chief.
She stated that seat sharing alone is not enough, and that any potential alliance must prioritize a common goal of addressing the region's problems.
Mufti highlighted that previous alliances, including one with the BJP, were based on a shared agenda, but expressed skepticism about the National Conference and Congress's current alliance, which she believes is focused solely on seat sharing.
"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," said Mufti.
Earlier on August 19, the NC released their manifesto, which includes some huge promises like the restoration of Article 370, 35-A and statehood; redrawing the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019; and the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits.
"The things that they have said, nothing is in their hands. How will they release the prisoners and restore Article 370? Even today, they are deviating people. That's the way they exploited people and spread nepotism and terrorism. To hold talks with Pakistan is also not their prerogative... People of J&K now understand more about security, unity and integrity, and they will not go for the politics of freebies," Gupta said on NC's manifesto on Monday.
The polling in Jammu and Kashmir will be held in three phases on September 18, 25, and October 1, as per the Election Commission of India. The counting of the votes will take place on October 4.
These are the first assembly elections to be held in Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370.
The PDP-BJP coalition government fell in June 2018 when the latter withdrew support for the then-Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti. In December of last year, the Supreme Court directed the Centre to conclude the election process by September 30, 2024.