Addressing a workers’ convention in Bandipora, Apni Party President Calls for the construction of the Gurez Tunnel, promotion of Bandipora’s tourism potential, protection of Wular Lake, creation of employment opportunities for youth, strengthening of health and education infrastructure, and provision of basic amenities in tribal villages across the district
JK News Today
Srinagar, July 19: Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Sunday pledged that his party would compel New Delhi to restore the constitutional rights of Jammu and Kashmir while ensuring that the region’s demographic character and its Muslim-majority status remain protected from any interference.
Addressing a workers’ convention in Bandipora, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said the solution to all the issues confronting the people of Jammu and Kashmir lay in New Delhi and nowhere else.
He said, “Jammu and Kashmir is destined to remain a part of India, and the solutions to all our problems will also come from New Delhi, not from anywhere else. Apni Party will compel the Centre to restore the constitutional rights of J&K.”
He added, “Some people in Jammu and Kashmir are apprehensive about demographic changes and any attempt to alter the region’s Muslim-majority status. Apni Party will take up these concerns with the Centre and ensure they are addressed.”
He appealed to the Government of India to fulfil its promise of bridging the “Dili aur Dil Ki Dooriyan” (the gap between New Delhi and the hearts of the people of Jammu and Kashmir).
He said, “Hon’ble Prime Minister has committed that initiatives would be undertaken to bridge the “Dili aur Dil ki Dooriyan”. This is the right time for the Government of India to initiate a meaningful dialogue with the people of Jammu and Kashmir so that their genuine concerns and grievances are heard, understood, and effectively addressed.”
Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari criticised the ruling National Conference (NC) for remaining silent on the demand for the restoration of statehood over the past six years, particularly since assuming office with a large mandate in 2024.
He said, “They remained in power for decades, yet after August 5, 2019, when the people needed them the most, they chose to remain silent. Now, they have suddenly begun raising the issue of statehood, but the obvious question is: where were they over the past six years? More importantly, why did they fail to speak up on this issue all this time, especially after assuming charge of the government, whth such a massive mandate?”
He said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir had lost most of their constitutional rights and special status because of the NC over the decades.
“It was this party (NC) that made J&K accede to India in 1947. Following that they start giving away J&K’s rights and special status to New Delhi. But when people needed them the most after August 5, 2019, they remained in hiding,” he said.
During his speech, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari also highlighted several local issues concerning Bandipora.
He demanded the immediate construction of the Gurez Tunnel to ensure all-weather connectivity between the Gurez Valley and the rest of Kashmir by bypassing the snowbound Razdan Pass. He also demanded the construction of the Bandipora–Sogam Road.
He blamed parties that have remained in power over the years for keeping Bandipora underdeveloped.
He said that “even hospitals and schools in the district lack adequate infrastructure and qualified professional staff.”
He also demanded the provision of basic amenities, especially potable drinking water, in tribal villages across Bandipora.
Expressing concern over the issue of mining, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said that local people had been deprived of their traditional rights while outsiders had been granted permission to extract mining material worth millions from rivers for nominal payments.
“Locals have been denied their traditional manual mining. This has to change, and Apni Party will ensure that local people get their rightful share in mining so they can continue their traditional livelihood,” he said.
He also expressed grave concern over rising unemployment, saying that educated youth were becoming increasingly frustrated because of the lack of job opportunities.
“It is the responsibility of the government to create employment opportunities for our youth. One of the reasons behind the growing drug menace is unemployment,” he said.
Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari further alleged that the National Conference had misled people with false promises and lies during its 2024 election campaign.
He said, “People were assured that they would receive 200 units of free electricity every month and 12 free LPG cylinders every year. They were promised additional ration, but instead the quota has been reduced further. They also promised to provide one lakh jobs within six months of forming the government. Now they are outsourcing jobs.”
He urged the people to free themselves from the traditional political parties, saying they had always exploited them.
Speaking on the occasion, the party’s Provincial President for Kashmir, Mohammad Ashraf Mir, urged party workers to “intensify their public outreach and political activities and remain closely connected with the people.”
He said that the “Apni Party is a party of the masses and that its members are expected to remain closely connected with the people at the grassroots level.”
He added that “ it is Apni Party’s responsibility to highlight pressing public issues and grievances to ensure their redressal by the concerned authorities. Therefore, he said, they must remain active on the ground.”
On this occasion, youth leader Sameer Iqbal from the National Conference in Kuloosa, Bandipora, joined the Apni Party along with his associates and supporters.
Besides Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukahri and Mohammad Ashraf Mir the prominent party leaders who were present on the occasion included party’s Provincial President Kashmir Mohammad Ashraf Mir, Chief Spokesperson & State Secretary Muntazir Mohiuddin, District President Bandipora Syed Shafat Qazmi, Provincial Secretary Kashmir Mohammad Saleem Lone, Provincial Joint Secretary Jammu Raiz Atish, Constituency In-charge Sonwari Haijan Imtiyaz Paray, Vice District President Bandipora Abdul Rahim Bhat, Youth President District Bandipora Shiraz Wani, Former DDC Ghulam Nabi Ganaie, Block President Naidkhai Abdul Qayoom Dar, Senior Leader Naseer Ahmad Mir, Senior Leader Rashid Imroze, Senior Leader Basharat Najar, and others.
The workers’ convention was organised jointly by the party’s District President Syed Shafat Kazmi and Senior Leader Naseer Ahmad Mir.
