BJP promises to wipe out terrorism, bring back Kashmiri Pandits in J&K poll manifesto

Vowing to wipe out terrorism from Jammu and Kashmir and make the Union Territory (UT) a new leader in development and progress in India, Union Minister Amit Shah on Sep 6 released a BJP manifesto that promises safe return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits and 500,000 jobs for the youth in the UT.

“We will set up a commission that would dig deep into the exodus and killings of the Pandits,” Shah said.

“We have officially given the status of internally displaced to the Pandits. Therefore, under the Pandit Tika Lal Taploo scheme, a detailed plan will be made for the complete rehabilitation of the Kashmiri Pandits,” he added.

One of the central themes of the manifesto includes the introduction of the 'Maa Samman Yojana,' under which the government will provide ₹18,000 annually to the senior-most woman in each household in the UT. This initiative aims to recognize and support women in their roles as key contributors to family and society.

It also pledged support to Women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) by offering the interest on bank loans through the state government.

The manifesto outlined a 25-point program including the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits in Kashmir under “Tika Lal Taploo Visthapit Samaj Punarvas Yojana” and employment opportunities for the youth besides the financial empowerment of women in the UT.

Taploo, a lawyer of the J&K High Court and BJP leader, was killed by the terrorists on Sep 13, 1989, in Srinagar. It was the first political killing of a Pandit leader that sparked fears among the community, which eventually fled Kashmir.

The party manifesto pledges to make Jammu and Kashmir a “developed, peaceful and prosperous” region.

It assures speedy justice to terrorism victims through fast-track cases and strict implementation of the rule of law in the region. It further promises a free and fair census, thereby ensuring proper decision-making, focusing on inclusive development with targeted interventions for marginalized communities.

To address the unemployment issue in the region, the BJP promised to create 500,000 jobs for the youth under the 'Pandit Prem Nath Dogra Rozgar Yojana.'

To empower students, the party announced the 'Pragati Shiksha Yojana,' which offers ₹3,000 annually as travel allowances for college students. This financial aid will be transferred directly to students via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), making education more accessible for young people in remote areas.