Srinagar, October 2, 2025 – In a historic moment for Jammu and Kashmir, renowned cardiologist and social activist Dr. Sandeep Mawa launched the United People’s Party (UPP) at the iconic Lal Chowk, a vibrant symbol of resilience in the Kashmir Valley. The launch, held under a crisp sky, attracted hundreds of supporters waving banners with the party’s emblem, signalling a new era of hope and reform.
Addressing an enthusiastic crowd from a modest stage at Lalchowk , Dr. Mawa, 48, delivered a fiery 45-minute speech condemning decades of systemic failures. “Kashmir has been struggling for empowerment since 1947, crippled by corruption, nepotism, and bureaucratic red-tape,” he declared. “Politicians have used Kashmiris as tools for their own empowerment, only to betray and humiliate innocent people. The UPP is born from the streets, not the salons of power, to fight corruption, restore dignity, and unite all—Kashmiris, Dogras, and Gujjars—as one people.”
The launch follows last year’s fragmented assembly elections, marking a pivotal moment for J&K’s volatile political landscape. Dr. Mawa, a Harvard-trained interventional cardiologist who returned to Jammu after two decades abroad, earned grassroots acclaim through his “Healing Hearts” initiative, which provided free medical camps to over 10,000 families during the 2023 floods. Frustrated by stalled development and rising unemployment, he now steps into politics with a transformative agenda.
The UPP’s manifesto, unveiled at the rally, is a sweeping “vision document for change” tackling political, judicial, administrative, and police corruption. Key promises include:
- Governance and Justice: Ultra-fast-track courts delivering judgments within one year, district-level courts to reduce case backlogs, and accountability commissions to probe corruption by politicians, bureaucrats, and police. A fact-finding commission will investigate innocent killings in J&K, with reports due within one year. The Public Appointments (PA) system will be abrogated on the party’s first day in office.
- Education and Youth: Free education up to 10th grade with scholarships, mandatory education, reduced private institution fees, student counseling, and 1,100 skill development centers. The party pledges 200,000 jobs for youth, 50,000 startup units, and 20 new management institutes.
- Economy and Infrastructure: Mega industrial parks in every district with 50% job reservations for J&K youth, new industrial towns, soft loans for sick units, and a 100,000-crore economic revival package. New ultra-smart cities with metro trains and designated corridors for street vendors are also planned.
- Agriculture and Artisans: Minimum support prices for farmers, 500 cold storage units, free health insurance up to ₹15 lakh for farmers and artisans, subsidized power, and KCC loan waivers. A commission will address farmers’ issues with immediate solutions.
- Social Welfare: Free health insurance up to ₹15 lakh for senior citizens, free bus services, and recreational centers at district levels. Housing for all, one-lakh marriage assistance for girls below the poverty line, and free professional courses for students with disabilities. Flood victims will receive immediate relief.
- Healthcare: Upgradation of tertiary hospitals, 1,000 modern primary health centers, and 11 new medical and engineering colleges.
- Cultural and Religious Support: Free Haj and Char Dham Yatra for citizens above 75, plus two free gas cylinders on major festivals (Eid, Diwali, Guru Purab, Christmas).
- Social Reforms: Anti-dowry laws with three-year penalties, guest control in marriages, and a J&K UT Human Rights Commission.
- Sports and Employment: Sports centers at every tehsil, permanent jobs for daily wagers and SPOs, and special employment packages for border areas.
Party officials hinted at contesting all 90 assembly seats in the next elections, prioritizing youth and women candidates. Notable attendees included former IAS officer Rehana Bhat, local traders, students, and ex-servicemen. Security was tight, with CRPF personnel ensuring peace despite a brief counter-protest.
Social media buzzed with #UnitedPeoplesParty trending regionally, as clips of the electrifying event spread. The launch video, shared on platforms like Facebook, has garnered over a million views, capturing the vibrant mood at Lal Chowk. While the many hailed the UPP as “a fresh voice,” skeptics from rival parties called it “an untested venture.”
Dr. Mawa concluded with optimism: “This is not the end of our struggle—it’s the beginning of our victory.” As the UPP awaits Election Commission registration, analysts predict it could disrupt the PDP-BJP-NC dominance by mobilizing disillusioned voters. Dr. Mawa’s cardiac expertise may now extend to healing J&K’s fractured polity, with Lal Chowk as the heartbeat of his ambitious mission.
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