Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday reaffirmed the party’s commitment to protecting the constitutional rights of Jammu and Kashmir and announced a set of seven guarantees aimed at improving the region’s future.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Kharge said the Congress would restore full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir as its top guarantee. The party also pledged free medical treatment worth up to Rs 25 lakh per family and promised a super-specialty hospital in every district.
Other promises include the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits based on a plan by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, ensuring rights for the OBC community, and financial support of Rs 3,000 per month for women heads of families. The party also promised 11 kg of grain per family member for food security.
For farmers, Congress offered crop insurance against natural disasters and set a minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 72 per kilogram for apples. It also proposed ₹4,000 annually for farming households and an unemployment allowance of up to Rs 3,500 a month for one year for eligible youths.
Additionally, Congress pledged to fill one lakh vacant government jobs within 30 days by issuing a job calendar.
The first phase of voting in Jammu and Kashmir finished on 18 September, with a 61.13% turnout across 24 constituencies. The second and third phases are set for 25 September and 5 October, with vote counting on 8 October, alongside results from Haryana.