Demands immediate conduct of Panchayat and ULB polls; calls for creating employment opportunities and revision of reservation policy
JK News Today
Srinagar, February 14: Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Saturday urged the Centre to restore dialogue with the people, especially the youth of Jammu and Kashmir, for confidence-building and to end the negative environment. He said that this is the appropriate time to end mistrust and negativity through meaningful dialogue.
Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari also urged the J&K government to take measures for the immediate holding of Panchayat and Urban Local Bodies elections. He also demanded that the existing reservation policy be rationalised.
The Apni Party President made these remarks while addressing a workers’ convention in Charar-e-Sharief.
He said that by holding Assembly elections in 2024, one tier of the democratic process was completed, but to ensure grassroots-level empowerment of the people and strengthen grassroots democratic institutions, it is important that Panchayat and ULB polls are held without any further delay.
He further said that grassroots-level empowerment through Panchayat and ULB polls was mentioned in the LG’s address to the House, but it seems that the elected government is not serious about holding these elections.
Expressing his concern over growing unemployment, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari demanded that the government take concrete measures to create employment opportunities for the youth. He said that, unfortunately, there was nothing in the recently passed budget to generate job opportunities. He further stressed that the existing reservation policy must be rationalised to ensure fairness and balance.
Accusing the ruling NC and the Opposition BJP, along with their leaders, of dividing people for personal and political gains, he said that both parties are hand in glove and are helping advance each other’s agenda.
He alleged that the NC criticises the BJP merely to gain people’s support in the Valley, while the BJP does the same to secure public backing in Jammu. By doing so, he said, both parties reap political dividends at the cost of people’s unity and the harmony between the two regions.
In his speech, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari explained how and why Apni Party was established on March 8, 2020, at a time when Jammu and Kashmir and its people were going through a period of distress and chaos in the aftermath of the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A.
He said, “On August 5, 2019, the central government shocked us by revoking the special constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir through the abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcating the erstwhile state into two Union Territories. This decision created widespread apprehension about potential demographic changes in the region. During those testing times, we took a bold stand and stepped forward to form an organisation to engage with leaders in the Union Government. We met the Hon’ble Prime Minister and the Hon’ble Home Minister and urged them to safeguard the special rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly with regard to land and employment.”
He went on to say, “Our efforts led to the introduction of the domicile law, ensuring that no one can purchase land or secure government employment in Jammu and Kashmir unless they have resided here for at least 15 years. This residency period can be extended if an elected government has the will to do so.”
“If the present government is sincere in protecting the interests of the people, it should consider increasing the residency requirement for obtaining a domicile certificate from the current 15 years to 50 years,” Mr Bukhari added.
Apni Party President said that traditional regional leaders, especially those led by two families, have been exploiting people through deceitful slogans and false promises. He urged people to stop falling prey to their deceptions.
He said, “Your victimization and exploitation by these traditional parties and their leaders have been going on for decades. Unfortunately, you have allowed them to exploit you. At one point in history, you even chanted self-insulting slogans like, “Ala karay ga, wangan karay ga, bab karay ga.” Then we saw how they treated people like those vegetables. At the very least, you must now stop following the same parties and their leaders blindly.”
“These parties and their leaders are responsible for our miseries. They have consistently engaged in political gimmickry, allowing the rights of the people to be undermined for the sake of their own political gains, he said.
Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said that in the 2024 Assembly elections, Apni Party suffered only because it did not resort to lies or fake promises.
He said, “We lost only because we believe in the politics of truthfulness and integrity. Unlike others, we do not believe in fake promises or unachievable goals. We say openly that New Delhi has given us deep wounds. There is no doubt about it. However, we also believe that solace for our wounds will come from New Delhi, not from anywhere else. This is the truth, and we will continue to say it.”
Speaking on the occasion, the party’s prominent leader and Chairman of the Parliamentary Affairs Committee (PAC) said, “The parties that claimed during the elections that they would restore Article 370 were simply lying. Article 370 was abrogated by Parliament. We can reinstate it only when we have a majority in Parliament, and that is unlikely.”
He further said, “After the events of August 5, thousands of people were jailed, and the Apni Party played a role in securing the release of 3,200 prisoners. That was our contribution at that time.”
Addressing the event, party General Secretary Rafi Ahmad Mir spoke about the local public issues and grievances that people in Budgam are facing. He said, “During our interaction with the people and party workers here, we came to know about the pressing issues they are grappling with. I assure you that we will bring these issues to the notice of the concerned officials, ensuring their prompt redressal.”
While speaking to the gathering, the party’s Media Advisor, Farooq Andrabi, asked people to make the Apni Party stronger and support its vision for the people. He told them not to fall for the tricks of old political parties and not to be fooled again by their repeated lies. He said people should take part in democracy in a careful and responsible way. He also asked them to support leaders who believe in honesty, responsibility, and real public welfare.
The other prominent party leaders who spoke on the occasion or were present included Spokesperson and Youth Wing President Yawar Dilawar Mir; District President Budgam, Owase Ashraf Shah; District President Shopian, Advocate Gowhar; Constituency In-charge for Budgam District and Senior Vice District President Mukhtar Ahmad Dar; Spokesperson Ishrat Bhat; Shaista Ji; Ghulam Hassan; Ghulam Nabi Dar; Irfan Mukhtar Sofi; Imtiyaz Ahmad; Dar; Ghulam Hassan Kumar; Ayaz Ahmad Najar; Riyaz Ahmad Dar; Jahangir Ahmad; Latief Ahmad Dar; Javeed Ahmad Khanday; Basharat Khanday; Abdul Majeed; Mohammad Shafi Mir; and others.
