Speaks at a workers’ convention in north Kashmir’s Pattan
JK News Today
Srinagar, May 3: Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, on Sunday accused the government of lacking a comprehensive plan to tackle rising unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir. He said that the ruling party misled the public during election campaign by making false promises of providing one lakh jobs soon after assuming power.
Apni Party President made these remarks today while addressing a workers’ convention in Pattan of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
Reiterating his demand for dialogue between the Union government and the people of Jammu and Kashmir, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said that “it is of utmost importance that the Centre initiates talks as promised by the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister. He stressed that the trust deficit between New Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir must be bridged,”
“Whether or not New Delhi talks to Pakistan is not our issue, but it must talk to its own people—especially the youth—to address their pressing issues,” he asserted.
Calling for the release of detainees, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said that numerous leaders and young people have been jailed for an extended time.
“How long will they remain behind bars?” he asked, asserting that those not facing grave charges must be freed to return to normal life with their families.
Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari further said, “New Delhi has to understand that our youth are enduring many hardships and problems that need to be addressed. They have no jobs, and no employment generation measures are being taken. Even our youth are not being given passports to travel abroad for better livelihood opportunities. People are deeply disappointed.
On one hand, J&K was stripped of its special constitutional status, statehood, and other privileges on August 5; on the other hand, people are being left high and dry, with their pressing issues and grievances unaddressed. Where will they go? How does New Delhi expect people here to remain content with the Centre?”
“That is why I repeatedly urge the Centre to initiate a dialogue with the people and address their concerns,” he added.
Accusing the elected government of misleading people with false promises during the 2024 assembly election campaign, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said, “They (the ruling party) misled people by claiming that they would create one lakh jobs soon after assuming charge of the government. Where are those jobs? They have neither a plan nor a policy to address the grave issue of unemployment in J&K.”
He added, “We understand that not everyone can be given a government job, but that does not mean the elected government should remain idle and do nothing about rising unemployment. What is their plan, and what have they done during the past one and a half years in power?”
He went on to say, “During the election campaign, they misled people. They promised free electricity, but instead they have increased electricity charges. Where are the free cooking gas cylinders and the enhanced ration quota they had promised to the people?”
“Have they made the daily wagers permanent, as they had promised to the people?” he asked.
Addressing the occasion, the party’s Senior Vice President, Ghulam Hassan Mir, accused the elected government of deliberately depriving people of their right to choose their representatives through Panchayat and Urban Local Bodies elections.
He said, “They know that these elections will empower people at the grassroots level, and they do not want such empowerment. They do not want democracy to strengthen here because they are unwilling to share power with the common people. They seek only their own empowerment and wish to rule through unchecked and continuous authority. That is why this government is not allowing Panchayat and ULB elections to be held here.”
He raised the issue of mineral extraction and said that many local people have been earning their livelihood by manually extracting building materials from rivers and nallahs. This source of livelihood has been taken away from them.
“We raised this issue with the central government and convinced them that traditional methods of mineral extraction should continue as they used to. We were assured that permissions for extracting sand, bajri, etc., from rivers would be granted to Panchayats, which would be authorised to decide who should receive the contracts. But unfortunately, the local government is not allowing these bodies to be elected here.”
Mir said that the Apni Party wants genuine development in Jammu and Kashmir. “We want a better future for our youth and a dignified life for them. They should not be summoned to police stations or put in jails. We must transform Jammu and Kashmir into a truly peaceful, stable, and developed region.”
He said that in the 2024 Assembly elections, the people have given the Apni Party the role of the opposition, and it will leave no stone unturned to perform its duties effectively. “We will raise pressing public issues and grievances time and again, ensure they are addressed, and continue striving to hold this government accountable for its misgovernance before the people.”
Addressing the workers’ convention, the party’s Chief Coordinator, Returning Officer, and District President Kulgam, Abdul Majeed Paddar, urged people to wake up and play their role in holding the elected government accountable.
“You have given your mandate to this government, and it is accountable to you. It is your right to hold them accountable,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, State Youth President and Spokesperson Yawar Dilawar Mir said, “Apni Party is committed to striving for the peace, prosperity, and development of Jammu and Kashmir.”
He added, “We will ensure that Jammu and Kashmir and its people receive all the rights they deserve, like any other citizen of the country. This party will continue to fight to restore people’s rights.”
He urged the public to support the Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party so that it can effectively implement its pro-people agenda and policies.
Besides Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, Ghulam Hassan Mir, Abdul Majeed Padder, and Yawar Mir, the prominent party leaders who were present on the occasion or addressed the gathering included party’s State Secretary & Chief Spokesperson Muntazir Mohiuddin, State Youth President & Spokesperson Yawar Dilawar Mir, Provincial Vice President Kashmir Hakikat Singh, District President Baramulla Shabir Ahmad Shah, Constituency In-charge Pattan Sheikh Riyaz, Syed Muzaffar Rizwi, and others.
