Exuding confidence that the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) will form the next government on its own, Union Home Minister Amit Shah Friday unveiled the party’s Sankalp Patra (manifesto) asserting its resolve to build a peaceful, secure, developed, and prosperous Jammu and Kashmir.

Ahead of releasing the party’s “Sankalp Patra”, Shah said, “Article 370 is part of history and will never come back. The people of the country and the state respect the abrogation of Article 370.”

Referring to the list of 25 promises made by the party in its manifesto, Shah said ‘wiping out terrorism and separatism in the state’ figure high on our agenda, followed by prioritising and enhancing women’s financial security and self-reliance.

The Home Minister also promised to bring a white paper to fix the responsibility of those involved in the emergence of terrorism in the region.

The BJP also promised the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits under the Tika Lal Taploo Visthapit Samaj Punarvas Yojana, while also expediting support for refugees from Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir (POJK) and internally neglected groups like the Valmiki and Gorkha communities. A concerted drive to remove illegal Rohingya and Bangladeshi settlements from Jammu and Kashmir is another priority in BJP’s plan.

The manifesto release function, organised in a private hotel, was attended by Union Minister G Kishan Reddy, MoS PMO Dr Jitendra Singh, National General Secretary Tarun Chugh, J&K BJP Chief Ravinder Raina, Member Parliament from Jammu, Jugal Kishore Sharma, former Deputy CMs Kavinder Gupta, Prof Nirmal Singh and DS Rana.

Speaking at the manifesto release, Amit Shah said, “Since Independence, the issue of Jammu and Kashmir has remained important for our party, and we’ve always tried to keep this region with India.” From Pandit Prem Nath Dogra’s struggle to Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s sacrifice, this struggle was taken forward first by Jana Sangh and then by the BJP because we believe that Jammu and Kashmir has always been a part of India and will remain so”, he added

The Union home minister claimed Jammu and Kashmir faced destabilization by various state and non-state actors until 2014.”All other governments did politics of appeasement to deal with the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. However, whenever the history of India and Jammu and Kashmir is written, the period between 2014 and 2024 will be written in golden words,” Shah added.

Targeting the alliance partners fighting against the BJP, Shah said, “I have seen the NC’s (National Conference) agenda. I have also seen Congress silently supporting NC’s agenda. But, I want to say to the country that Article 370 is history, it will never return, and we won’t let it happen. Article 370 was the thing that gave weapons and stones in the hands of the youth.”

Reaching out to the largest section of the women electorate the BJP manifesto has promised `18,000 per year to the eldest woman in every family under ‘Maa Samman Yojana’ if voted to power in J&K.”We will give two free cylinders under the Ujjwala scheme, per year. 

BJP, in its manifesto, has also promised a 20% reservation for Agniveers in government jobs,  tablets or laptops to students in remote areas, while college students will benefit from a `3,000 yearly travel allowance under the Pragati Shiksha Yojana.

Addressing the concerns of the business community, the BJP has promised to set up a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) for IT at Jammu City, an amusement park in Srinagar, and the development of Gulmarg and Pahalgam as modern tourist destinations will be the key elements of economic growth and infrastructure development in the Union territory.

To attract tourists in Jammu, the party aims to develop the Tawi Riverfront in Jammu, modelled after Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati Riverfront, and to promote water sports and tourism around Dal Lake in Srinagar.

For small traders and MSMEs, the BJP has pledged to resolve existing issues around land access, utility services, and lease deeds. These measures are expected to boost local businesses and support economic growth.

The manifesto promises relief from outstanding electricity and water bills, free electricity under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, and drinking water through the ‘Har Ghar Nal Se Jal’ scheme. In addition, the BJP pledges to triple pensions for the elderly, widows, and the disabled, from `1,000 to `3,000, ensuring a life of dignity for vulnerable groups. The BJP also aims to expand the Ayushman Bharat Sehat Scheme, increasing coverage by an additional ?2 lakhs, and promises to add 1,000 new medical seats to government colleges, reflecting its commitment to affordable healthcare.

The BJP has outlined various measures to support farmers, including increasing the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi payout by `4,000, bringing the total annual benefit to `10,000. Electricity tariffs for agricultural activities will be reduced by up to 50%, and the manifesto includes plans to build 10,000 Kms of new rural roads under the ‘Har Tunnel Tez Pahal’ Yojana, improving connectivity in the region.