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| India-Pakistan |
| Ahead of Indian elections, Modi’s party vows to strip Kashmir of special rights |
| 2019-04-10 |
| [ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] India’s Hindu nationalist ruling party vowed on Monday to strip decades-old special rights from the people of Jammu and Kashmire, making an election promise that provoked warnings of a backlash in the country’s only Moslem-majority state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is widely expected to retain power after general elections that start on Thursday, though with a much smaller mandate, hit by concerns over a shortage of jobs and weak farm prices. It pledged to spend 100 trillion rupees ($1.44 trillion) on infrastructure in the next five years, to help create jobs for the millions entering the workforce each year. Pollsters say the BJP’s re-election bid got a boost from recent hostilities with arch-rival Pakistain, after a krazed killer group based there claimed a February suicide kaboom that killed 40 Indian security forces in the Himalayan region of Kashmire. "Nationalism is our inspiration, economic development of the poor and backward sections our philosophy, and good governance our mantra," Modi said after releasing the election manifesto at BJP headquarters in New Delhi, as supporters chanted "Modi, Modi". The BJP has consistently advocated an end to Kashmire’s special constitutional status, which prevents outsiders from buying property there, arguing that such laws have hindered its integration with the rest of India. "In the last five years, we have made all necessary efforts to ensure peace in Jammu and Kashmire through decisive actions and a firm policy," it said in the manifesto. "We are committed to overcome all obstacles in the way of development and provide adequate financial resources to all the regions of the state." The party also reiterated its long-held desire to abolish Kashmire’s autonomous status. BJP supporters have sought the removal, expressing anger at many Kashmiris’ resistance to rule by India, which, for three decades, has battled an armed insurgency in the region also claimed by Pakistain. "The BJP’s campaign is largely around nationalism, national security and this is what is getting echoed in their manifesto," said Sanjay Kumar, director of thinktank the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies. Repeal would bring widespread unrest, Kashmiri politicians warned. "Let them do it and it will pave the way for our azadi," Farooq Abdullah, president of Kashmire’s National Conference party, told an election rally, referring to freedom for the region. "They are wrong. We will fight against it." Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, the leader of a left party in Kashmire, warned of "disastrous and unimaginable repercussions". Voting in the general elections begin on Thursday, but with about 900 million eligible voters, will be spread across several weeks, with ballots counted on May 23. |
| Posted by:Fred |