Unveiling the manifesto for the upcoming Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Home Minister Amit Shah has ruled out the restoration of Article 370, which granted special status to the erstwhile state, and said the provision has now “become history”.

The restoration of Article 370, which was abrogated in 2019, has been promised in the manifesto released by the National Conference, which is contesting the elections in an alliance with the Congress. The Assembly polls will be the first since 2014 and are also being keenly watched to gauge how the people of Jammu and Kashmir feel about the removal of the provision.

Ahead of releasing Bharatiya Janata Party’s “Sankalp Patra” (manifesto) for the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said that there will be no reversing the abrogation of Article 370.

He further said, “The people of the country and the state respect the abrogation of Article 370.”

Elections in Jammu and Kashmir are scheduled in three phases, which will be conducted on September 18, 25, and October 1.

New tourist hub, 5 lakh jobs: Amit Shah

A new tourist hub will come up near Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri and 5 lakh jobs will be created in the valley, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Friday as he released the BJP’s poll manifesto ahead of state Assembly elections.

Tourist centres will also be created in Jammu and the BJP will ensure the welfare of displaced communities, including Kashmiri Pandits, the manifesto said.

“We will launch the Tika Lal Taploo Visthapit Samaj Puranvas Yojana (TLTVPY) to ensure the safe return and rehabilitation of the Kashmiri Pandit community,” a part of the manifesto read.

Releasing the manifesto, Amit Shah said that the union territory shifted from “max terrorism to max tourism” in 10 years. Commending BJP for its work in the Kashmir valley, Shah said the party demolished the terror ecosystem.

“Jammu and Kashmir has always been very close to our hearts since 1947. J&K was, is and shall always remain an integral part of India,” Shah said. Shah said the BJP’s focus will remain on restoration of peace in the valley.

Lashing out at the Opposition, Shah said other political parties indulged in appeasement politics and were “responsible for separatism”.