Mohammad Ashraf Mir urges people to hold the government answerable and accountable, as they voted it to power
JK News Today
Srinagar, July 24: Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Thursday said that the people of Srinagar city have consistently been neglected by those who have remained at the helm of affairs over the decades.
He said that the residents of Srinagar continue to grapple with a host of challenges, including rising unemployment, inadequate housing, and a lack of essential public infrastructure. According to him, no government has made sincere efforts to create employment opportunities or undertaken meaningful initiatives to address the city’s housing needs and infrastructure deficit.
Bukhari further said that Srinagar has been left behind in terms of development and that, even today, no concrete measures are being taken to improve the condition of the city or the quality of life of its residents.
Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said that the biggest challenge for Jammu and Kashmir is to guide our youth and ensure employment opportunities for them.
He said, “Over the past several decades, our youth were pushed to the wall. They were misled and steered towards the path of violence and bloodshed. Instead of being shown the way to growth, development, and prosperity, they were led down a path that ultimately left many of them either behind bars or in graveyards.”
He added, “Today, our biggest challenge is to support and guide our younger generation by showing them the path that leads to progress, prosperity, and a dignified future. Equally important is the need to create meaningful employment opportunities for them. Our youth are our greatest asset, and it is our collective responsibility to protect, nurture, and guide them in the right direction.”
Reiterating his demand for dialogue between the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the Central Government, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said, “ I once again urge the Government of India to initiate a meaningful dialogue with the people of Jammu and Kashmir, especially the youth, so that the existing trust deficit between the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the rest of the country can be bridged, and their genuine issues and grievances are addressed in a sincere and effective manner.”
“Hon’ble Prime Minister and Hon’ble Home Minister have themselves assured that they would engage with the people of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly the youth. I believe this is the right time for the Government of India to fulfil that commitment by initiating a meaningful dialogue with the people,” he added.
Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari also raised the public issues being faced by the people of the Hazratbal constituency.
He said, “I am fully aware of the issues and grievances that you are grappling with. Unfortunately, the government has completely failed to address these genuine concerns, despite the fact that you exercised your democratic right by voting and electing your MLA in the hope of receiving effective governance. Regrettably, they have failed to deliver on that expectation.”
Appealing to the people to support the Apni Party, he described it as a platform for the common people rather than any individual or family.
He said, “This party belongs to the people, not to any individual or any family. Let us strengthen this organisation so that we can effectively address public issues and grievances.”
After the convention Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari also spoke to the reporters. When asked about PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti’s participation in the ongoing protests at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, he said, “She had no right to join the protest and express sympathy with the protesters because, back home, she has a track record of dealing with protesters ruthlessly. When she was in power, she used pellet guns against our protesting children.”
Speaking on the occasion party’s Provincial President Mohammed
Ashraf Mir criticises NC government over governance and public issues.
Mir expressed concern over what he described as the ruling National Conference’s failure to provide effective governance in Jammu and Kashmir.
He urged people to remain vigilant about their rights and hold the government accountable, saying it was the people who had voted the ruling party into power with the expectation of good governance.
Mir also expressed concern over the mass arrests following Wednesday’s terror attack in Anantnag, in which a policeman was martyred.
He further raised the issue of delays in passport issuance, alleging that many young people were being denied passports because the mandatory police verification process had been made unnecessarily difficult and time-consuming.
He said the elected government was expected to ensure the resolution of such public issues but had failed to address these pressing concerns.
On this occasion, a number of political leaders and activists from party’s like NC and PDP formally joined Apni Party. The new entrants included Manzoor Ahmad Dar Bock President , Farooq Ahmad Reshi Danihama, Bilal Ahmad Mir Danihama ,Ghulam Mohammad BeighDanihama, Mohammad Anas Chinga, Tahir Ahmad, Zeeshan Ahmad, Ghulam AhmadDono, Ghulam Rashool Mir, Abdul Hameed Bhat, Tariq Ahmad, Mohammad Qazam Shalimar, and others.
Besides Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari and Mohammad Ashraf Mir, the prominent party leaders who were present on the occasion included Orgainser Central Kashmir Mohammad Shafi Mir, District President Srinagar Zaffar Habib, Provincial Coordinator Kashmir Shabir Ahmad Reshi, Provincial Secretary Kashmir Mohammad Saleem Lone, Provincial Youth President Kahsmir Jibran Dar, Youth District President Srinagar Ishtiyaq Khan, Youth District Vice President Srinagar Mudasir Ah Bhat, Youth Jt Secretary Srinagar Mudasir Wali, Tanveer Hussain Pathan, Sameer Iqbal, and others.
