Let our youth live with peace and dignity, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari tells the government
JK News Today
Srinagar, November 14: Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, on Wednesday, urged the government not to subject the youth to unnecessary suffering based on the past affiliations of some of their relatives with militancy.
He said, “I urge the government and its administration to permit our youth to live with peace and dignity, enabling them to flourish in their careers. The mandatory verification processes for their employment and passport applications should not be impeded solely based on the past affiliations of their relatives.”
He made these comments while addressing the party’s public rally in Damhal Hanji Pora, in south Kashmir’s Julgam district, today. The local residents and party members thronged to the rally, extending a warm welcome to the party president and the accompanying leaders. Traditional music and drum beats resonated through the venue upon their arrival.
Addressing the rally, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari urged the government to stop subjecting people to hardships in the name of their affiliations.
“In certain instances, individuals are facing hardships solely due to their affiliation with Jamaat-e-Islami. I wonder why such actions are being taken,” the Apni Party President remarked.
“Jamaat-e-Islami should be granted the freedom to carry out its religious obligations without any impediment, and their educational institutions should be permitted to operate without hindrance,” he asserted.
Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari pledged to the people that, once the Apni Party gets the public mandate to serve the people, it will diligently work towards reinstating social justice and upholding the rights of the residents of Jammu and Kashmir.
He said, “Unlike the traditional politicians, I am not here to offer empty promises or set unattainable goals. I will only commit to what I know and sincerely believe can be fulfilled. Today, I assure you that the Apni Party is dedicated to securing a prosperous future for the people of this region. Our focus will be on diligently restoring social justice and safeguarding the rights of Jammu and Kashmir residents, irrespective of their geographical identities as well as their political or religious affiliations.”
“We know how to generate employment opportunities and secure economic dividends for the people throughout Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.
He further said, “I assure you that the Apni Party will never disappoint the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”
Reiterating his idea about the relation of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the country, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said, “I say this time and again that Jammu and Kashmir is inherently meant to be an integral part of India. The resolutions to all our challenges will emanate from New Delhi and nowhere else.”
“I do not mince words when conveying this truth because I believe in the politics of honesty. I cannot engage in falsehood or mislead my people,” he added.
He urged people to cast their votes wisely in the upcoming elections. He said, “This is your responsibility to reject the traditional political parties, who have been exploiting and misleading you over the years and decades. You must use your vote wisely and elect candidates who are genuinely committed to working for your well-being.”
Voicing his profound concern over the prevailing drug menace in the Valley, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari urged people to play their individual and collective roles to eradicate this evil from society in order to protect the young generation.
He said, “I feel deeply saddened to see that many of our youngsters are falling prey to the drug menace. This is an intolerable situation, considering that the future of our young generation is at stake. It is both an individual and collective responsibility for each of us to actively contribute towards eliminating this menace from our society. We cannot afford to be mere spectators while drug addiction is claiming the lives of our youth.”
“Drugs pose a greater danger than guns. While a gun may only harm the individual who wields it, drugs not only claim the life of the individual involved but also have a profound impact on his or her family and the entire fabric of society as well,” he added.
On this occasion, during his address to the rally, Apni Party’s Senior Vice President, Ghulam Hassan Mir, acknowledged that the abrogation of Article 370 was a painful event. However, he questioned the traditional political parties and their leaders for their failure to safeguard this article, despite their assurances that they would prevent its revocation.
He said, “During the parliamentary elections, these parties sought votes by pledging to protect Article 370. People elected their candidates to the parliament with the expectation of safeguarding this article, but even then, these leaders remained silent when Article 370 was abrogated.”
“Similarly, these traditional parties always talked about things like ‘Autonomy’ and ‘self-rule’ but never did get these things during their tenures in office. In fact, they were never sincere about their slogans; they just wanted to grab power in the name of these slogans. If this were not the case, why, despite having a two-thirds majority in the assembly in 1996, did the National Conference (NC) not achieve autonomy?” he questioned.
The party’s vice president, Zaffar Iqbal Manhas, urged people not to believe the deceptive slogans of conventional political parties. He said, “Over the years, you have allowed deceptive politicians to exploit you. Recall the days when you blindly trusted and followed these leaders to the extent that you even chanted self-insulting slogans like, ‘Ala karay ga, wangan karay ga, bab karay ga’. Dispite your blind support, these political parties and their leaders deceived you and played with your sentiments.”
“Enough is enough; the time has come for introspection. It is imperative to stop falling into the trap of these political gimmicks,” he added.
Party General Secretary Rafi Ahmad Mir, while addressing the rally, strongly urged the government to hold assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir and restore its statehood without any further delay.
He said, “We firmly believe in democracy, where people have the right to choose their representatives to lead them. The government should not deny the people of Jammu and Kashmir their right to elect their own representatives. Therefore, we strongly urge New Delhi to conduct assembly elections here as soon as possible, and likewise, the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir must be restored without any further delay.”
The party’s Chief Coordinator and District President, Abdul Majeed Padder, while addressing the rally, extended his gratitude to the participants and said, “Your presence here is a testament to your unwavering faith in the Apni Party’s clear-cut agenda and policies. Your trust in our leadership does not go unnoticed. Today, I solemnly pledge that we will consistently live up to your expectations. Our commitment is unwavering in serving the people, with the ultimate goal of securing peace, prosperity, and the holistic development of Jammu and Kashmir.”
Besides Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, Ghulam Hassan Mir, Zaffar Manhas, Rafi Ahmad Mir, and Abdul Majeed Padder, the prominent leaders and senior workers who were present at the venue included ST Vice President Mushtaq Ahmad Doyee, District Vice President Gull Mohammad Tantray, District Vice President Mohammad Amin Bhat, DDC and District Youth President Riyaz Ahmad Bhat, District President ST Wing Irshad Ahmad Paswal, Zonal President Abdul Hamid Dar, District President Women’s Wing Ms. Arifa Jee, and Zonal President Kulgam Tahir Riyaz Reshi, Zonal President Kulgam Fayaz Ahmad Shah, Zonal President Kulgam ST Wing Manzoor Ahmad Gorsee, Zonal President Youth Wing Rouf Ahmad Magary, and others. The event was orginised by Er. Rafee Shah.
