Slams government for power tariff hike, and demands it’s rollback
JK News Today
Srinagar, August 23: Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Sunday said that the “people of Srinagar city have always supported the National Conference, but the party has deprived them of their social, political, and economic rights.”
He said that the Apni Party is committed to working for the upliftment and development of the people of Srinagar city.
He made these remarks today while addressing a public meeting at Brain Nishat in Srinagar. The event was organised to welcome prominent political and social leader Amir Bhat and his associates into the party fold.
Bhat was previously associated with the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP).
On the occasion, Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari declared Amir Bhat as the party’s face in Srinagar’s Khanyar constituency and assured him of the party’s full support in his efforts to serve the people.
Addressing the occasion, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said, People of Srinagar city are grappling with a range of issues and yet the government seems least bothered about them.
He said, “People in the city lack adequate housing, with three to four families often living under a single roof in many areas. There are also limited livelihood opportunities, leaving even educated youth unemployed and without hope for a better future. This situation persists despite the people of Srinagar having consistently supported the ruling National Conference. Despite being in power for decades, the NC has failed to address the basic needs and aspirations of the people of the city.”
He further said, “Apni Party wants to improve the living standards of the people of Srinagar and ensure that they have access to adequate housing, employment opportunities, and sufficient public infrastructure. The party is committed to addressing the basic needs of the people and creating better opportunities for a dignified and prosperous life.”
He also talked about the several public issues that people in brain Nishat are facing. He said, “I have been informed about the range of pressing public issues that the people here are facing. There is not even a health centre in the area where round-the-clock medical services are available. There is also not a single marriage hall in the area, along with several other shortcomings that reflect the lack of adequate public infrastructure.”
He said young leaders like Amir Bhat now have a vital responsibility to help transform the future of Srinagar city and its people. “Srinagar has been chronically neglected and overlooked, even by those who remained in power for decades. It is now time for young and committed leaders to work for the development and welfare of the city and restore its rightful place,” he said.
He further said, “It is deeply shocking to see that several areas of Srinagar city continue to face a shortage of even basic amenities, including access to safe drinking water. The people of the city are also struggling with a lack of adequate livelihood opportunities, housing and essential public infrastructure.”
“Is this what the people of Srinagar voted for when they reposed their trust in the ruling party in all eight constituencies?” he asked.
“I know that Amir feels deeply for his people and is committed to serving them. I am sure that it is young and energetic leaders like him who can help restore the lost glory of this historic city. Apni Party’s doors are always open to such young and committed people, as the revival, development, and transformation of Srinagar city remain one of the party’s core priorities,” he said.
Slamming the ruling party for its failure to fulfil the promises it made to the people during the 2024 Assembly election campaign, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said, “You had promised to provide one lakh jobs to unemployed youth soon after assuming office. Nearly two years have passed. What have you done? Where will our unemployed youth go? They voted for you because they trusted your promises.”
He went on to say, “What happened to your promise of providing an additional ration quota and free LPG cylinders to households? What about your commitment to regularise daily wagers? Why don’t you even talk about these issues anymore? After all, the people gave you their mandate with the expectation that you would address their problems and fulfil your commitments. How can you justify such a failure to honour the promises you made to them?”
He challenged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to demonstrate the government’s efficiency through tangible work and by fulfilling the promises made to the people. “If you cannot deliver on your commitments and address the people’s pressing concerns, you should step down from the government,” he said.
“You have the backing of 42 elected MLAs. Why are you so afraid of Delhi that you are even reluctant to speak about the release of detainees and the restoration of people’s other rights?” he asked.
Strongly opposing the recent hike in power tariffs, Mr. Bukhari said, “We already knew that the ruling party had blatantly lied to the people when it sought votes by promising 200 units of free electricity to every household, along with several other such promises. However, we had never imagined that this government would further burden the already financially strained people by increasing the power tariff.”
“Many families are facing such acute economic hardship that they can barely afford medicines for their sick family members. How can they possibly bear the additional burden of a power tariff hike? This government should be ashamed of imposing yet another burden on the very people who placed their trust in it and gave it their mandate,” he said.
He demanded that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who also holds the Power portfolio, immediately withdraw the recent order announcing the tariff hike.
Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari also appealed Prime Minister Narendra Modi to engage with the people of Jammu and Kashmir through a meaningful dialogue aimed at understanding and addressing their concerns, issues, and grievances.
He said, “Hon’ble Prime Minister has committed to engaging with the people, particularly the youth, of Jammu and Kashmir to understand and address their issues. This commitment must be fulfilled without any further delay. The people of J&K are grappling with several serious issues and challenges, and they have some genuine concerns and grievances that need to be heard and addressed.”
New Delhi, irrespective of which party was in power, has always damaged the interests of the people of J&K. He said, “It is not only the BJP. Even the Congress did the same. It was the Congress and its leaders who took the Kashmir matter to the UN, but, on the other hand, they purchased our leaders with power and money, making them corrupt ensuring they surrender the rights of Jammu and Kashmir.”
Mr. Bukhari said that New Delhi must understand that it has to restore the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir to ensure a sustained peace, normalcy and stability here.
He said, “Centre must realise that the people of Jammu and Kashmir do not demand anything impossible. They are simply seeking the rights guaranteed by the Constitution to every citizen. After all, we are equal citizens of the country and deserve every right and privilege that people in any part of the country are entitled to.”
“Should our youth rot in jails just because they made mistakes in the past? They deserve an opportunity to rebuild their lives, return to their families, and start afresh,” he said.
Meanwhile, speaking on the occasion, the party’s Vice President Mohammad Syed Akhoon said that people are fed up with the government because of its failure to address their pressing issues.
He said, “I was in the National Conference at the time of the 2024 Assembly elections. When I saw the party’s manifesto, I told its leaders that the promises made in it could not be fulfilled.
“I told them that the upcoming government could not provide one lakh jobs, 200 units of free electricity, free gas cylinders, and so on. I urged them not to deceive people through such a misleading manifesto. However, the leadership took offence to my advice. Instead of paying heed to my suggestion, they expelled me from the party. Today, we can see that people are furious because the ruling party has failed to fulfil its poll promises.”
Addressing the gathering, the party’s Provincial President Mohammad Ashraf Mir said that ensuring the development and prosperity of Srinagar city and its people is one of the core agendas of the Apni Party.
“Apni Party is committed to working for the development and prosperity of this beautiful and historic city. We want to see Srinagar emerge as a city where people have access to better infrastructure, opportunities and a dignified quality of life,” he said.
Mir urged youngsters to join hands with the Apni Party to help it successfully implement its agenda for the development and prosperity of the city.
He also urged party workers to remain closely connected with the people of Srinagar to understand their issues and grievances. He said that it is the party workers’ responsibility to highlight public issues and ensure that these are taken up with the concerned authorities and addressed without any delay.
Besides Mr Bukhari, Akhoon and Mir, the prominent party leaders who were present on this occasion included Chief Spokesperson & State Secretary Muntazir Mohiudin, State Youth President & Spokesperson Yawar Dilawar Mir, District President Srinagar & Constituency In-charge Central Shaltang Zaffar Habib, Provincial Secretary Mohammad Saleem Lone, Provincial Coordinator Kashmir Shabir Ahmad Reshi, Provincial Joint Secretary Kashmir Aamir Ashraf Bhat, Provincial Orgainser Secreatry Kashmir Yousuf Abdullah, District Vice President Srinagar Moshin Zaffar Shah, District Vice President Srinagar Gulzar Ahmad Bangroo, Senior Leader & Constituency In-charge Habba Kadal Jeelani Hamid Kumar, Joint Secretary District Srinagar Sameer Ahmad Lone, Youth Joint Secretary Srinagar Mudasir Wali, Suhail Wani, Ali Mohammad, and others.
