Says, panchayat, ULB polls apparently unlikely as long as NC remains at the helm
JK News Today
Srinagar, August 11: Apni Party president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari urged the authorities not to harass the youth in Kashmir and to allow them to participate freely in the August 15 celebrations.
He said that the “youth have endured immense hardships and suffering over the years and deserve to live a dignified life.”
He further said, “Even those who may have been involved in activities in the past, have suffered enough over the years and should be given an opportunity to move forward and lead a peaceful and dignified life.”
He made this remark while responding to reporters’ questions after a workers convention held at Wailoo Tangmarg.
Replying to a question about the apprehension of security threat to certain section of people, he said that the enemy is always looking for an opportunity, and therefore, everyone must remain vigilant.
“Our enemy will certainly try to disrupt the prevailing peace and calm, but with our vigilance and collective resolve, we have to foil any such attempt,” he said.
When asked about the strategy the Apni Party plans to adopt for the restoration of J&K’s statehood, he said that the party’s strategy remains the same as the one it adopted in 2020. “At that time too, we chose dialogue with New Delhi to ensure that the people of J&K continued to retain their exclusive rights over land and jobs,” he said.
On being asked about the pending Panchayat and Urban Local Bodies (ULB) elections, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said, “It appears that as long as the NC remains in power, Panchayat and ULB elections will not be held. They do not want people to exercise their democratic right to choose their representatives at the grassroots level. They are reluctant to strengthen democracy, empower people at the grassroots, and make those in power more accountable.”
While addressing the workers’ convention, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari took a dig at the traditional political parties, saying that in recent times, these parties have stooped to a new low by trading allegations and counter-allegations and hurling derogatory remarks at each other.
He said that “these parties and their leaders are doing so to divert people’s attention from the real issues. They do not want to address the issues that truly matter to the people.”
Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari expressed his grave concern over the government’s inability to provide and effective governenace.
He said, “The ruling party took votes from the people by promising that it would address their issues once it came to power. The people gave it a huge mandate, but now the party does not want to fulfil its promises.”
He further said, “The ruling party had promised that it would provide one lakh jobs to the people soon after taking charge of the government. It had also promised free electricity and gas cylinders to domestic consumers, along with an additional quota of ration. The party had also promised to regularise daily wagers. It had said that it would provide and enhance old-age pensions for citizens, among many other such promises. However, it has miserably failed to fulfil any of these promises despite receiving such a huge mandate from the people.”
Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari urged the people to support the Apni Party and strengthen it so that it can effectively implement its people-friendly vision and policies.
He said, “The way we ensured that the people of Jammu and Kashmir retained their exclusive rights over land and jobs here despite the changes in laws on August 5, 2019, we will continue to strive to protect and safeguard the rights of the people. We will ensure that all the constitutional rights of the people are restored.”
“In 2020, a few months after the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A, we succeeded in convincing New Delhi that there should be a domicile law with a residency requirement for attaining domicile status in Jammu and Kashmir. But I assure you that if the people give us their support, we will not only ensure that the existing 15-year residency requirement for attaining domicile status is enhanced to 50 years, but will also work to secure a constitutional guarantee for it. The Apni Party will make this happen,” Mr Bukhari added.
Addressing the convention, the party’s Senior Vice President, Ghulam Hassan Mir, said that the people of Tangmarg and adjoining areas have, throughout history, played a vital role in ensuring progress and development and in supporting positive politics aimed at shaping a better future for the people.
Mir said that he and his colleagues had contributed to efforts to establish the PDP as a political alternative in Jammu and Kashmir’s political landscape.
He said, “As far as development is concerned, we made significant progress under the PDP. However, unfortunately, the late Mufti Sahib also became weak, eventually allowing the party to become confined to his own family. We had believed that the PDP would emerge as an alternative to the NC’s dynastic politics and rule. But, unfortunately, the PDP too ended up becoming a family-run party.”
Talking about Apni Party Mir said, “Apni Party does not belong to any individual or any family. We are building this party as an alternative to dynastic politics in Jammu and Kashmir, where everyone with talent and ability will be given an opportunity to play their role. Our aim is to ultimately take Jammu and Kashmir on the path of peace, prosperity and development.”
He went on to say, “Unlike other political parties, Apni Party’s politics does not lead people, particularly the youth, towards negativity. Nor do we believe in a politics that has pushed our youth towards graveyards or jails. We believe in the politics of truth, responsibility and hope—a politics that empowers our youth to build a peaceful, prosperous and better future for Jammu and Kashmir.”
Ghulam Hassan Mir strongly reiterated his demand to the Central Government to initiate a dialogue with the people of Jammu and Kashmir and address their concerns.
He said, “I want to tell the Centre not to test the patience of the people. Talk to them, listen to them, understand their concerns, issues and apprehensions, and address them. This is imperative to bridge the prevailing trust deficit and restore people’s confidence in the system.”
On this occasion prominent social and political figure Bashir Ahmad Dar from Pariswani Kunzer joined the party. He was greeted the leadership on this occasion.
Besides Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari and Ghulam Hassan Mir, the prominent party leaders who were present on the occasion included party’s Provincial secretary Beigh Aftab, District President Baramulla Shabir Ahmad Shah, Provincial Publicity Secretary Kashmir Aamir Rashid Wani, Ex DDc member Tangmarg Adv Tajamul Ishfaq Mir, Ex DDc Kunzer Sheikh Nazir Ahmad, Block President Tangmarg Kaka ji, Social Media Analyst Tariq Mohiuddin, Block President Kunzer Abdul Kareem Dar, Block President Wailoo Mohammad Akbar, Block President Wanigam Nazir Ahmad, Zonal President Wagoora Keeri Mohammad Asadullah Lone, party leader Mohammad Shafi Mir, Ab Majid Kathoo, Mateen Ahmad, Abdul Ahad, Mohammad Akbar, Mohammad Shafi Mir, Ajaz Ahmad Mir, and others.
This workers’ convention was organised by the party’s Block President Wailoo Mohammad Akbar.
