Says, ‘the government cannot shield its failures behind the demand for statehood; Statehood is essential, but what about the issues that are seriously affecting the people here?’
JK News Today
Srinagar, July 10: Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Friday expressed grave concern over the developmental slowdown and deficit in J&K, especially in the Valley.
He castigated the elected government for its failure to address the issues and grievances of the contractors, who are on strike demanding the resolution of their valid concerns.
He said, “the government has failed to provide effective governance in J&K, and that its biggest failure is the stagnation of developmental works in Kashmir.”
He further said the government cannot shield its failures behind the demand for statehood. He said, “the demand for statehood is imperative, and that everyone is concerned about the delay in its restoration. However, the government cannot hide its failures under the garb of this demand.”
Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari made these remarks today while addressing a press conference at the party headquarters in Srinagar.
During the press conference, he was flanked by several senior leaders of his party.
Addressing the occasion, Apni Party President said, “Our contractors are on strike, and the government seems least bothered about it. No attempt is being made to address the genuine concerns of these aggrieved contractors, who have been pushed to the wall by this government.”
“The biggest casualty of this crisis is development itself. Across the Valley, development work has come to a standstill. Everyone knows that our working season is very short—it begins in April and ends by September. We have already lost half of this season, and valuable time continues to slip away,” he added.
Demanding a white paper detailing the amount of funds that have lapsed since the present government assumed office in 2024, Mr. Bukhari said, “Apparently, our developmental funds are going to lapse this year, and this is not a new phenomenon since this government came to power in 2024. According to our information, around Rs 7,000 crore of J&K’s developmental funds also lapsed in the last financial year. This is clear evidence of the government’s incompetence. A white paper should be issued to inform the public about how much money allocated for developmental works has lapsed since this government came to power in 2024.”
He said, “It seems that Jammu Kashmir’s development is being deliberately hindered.” He further said, “On one hand, the prices of the raw materials required for developmental works—such as boulders, stones, bajri, sand, and other construction materials—are skyrocketing because the mining of these resources has been leased out to contractors from outside J&K. These contractors are mining ruthlessly, causing tremendous damage to our rivers, nallahs, and mountains. On the other hand, local contractors are being deprived of the right to carry out legal mining. Instead, they are being granted permission to mine only at locations that increase the transportation costs of these materials.”
Expressing his surprise over the government’s failure to address these issues, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said, “I am truly unable to understand what is preventing this government from taking the required initiatives to address these important issues. Why is it trying to hide each of its failures behind the demand for the restoration of statehood? Jammu and Kashmir’s development and the statehood are two entirely different matters and have nothing to do with each other. Development is essential for the overall progress and prosperity of Jammu and Kashmir and its people. Why is this government so unconcerned about the developmental stagnation in J&K?”
Urging the ruling party to fulfil its responsibilities instead of beating around the bush, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said, “People have given you mandate but with that mandate comes a responsibility to deliver. Unfortunately, you have so far failed to provide effective governance. You cannot distance yourself from your responsibilities or shift the blame elsewhere. Look at Srinagar city and the towns across North and South Kashmir. The development deficit is evident everywhere.”
“People are waiting for better roads, better services, better infrastructure, and better governance. They deserve results, not excuses. The time to deliver is now,” he added.
Urging the government to immediately address the long-pending demands of the Hot Mix Plant Owners Association, which is on strike, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said, “This is the peak construction season, with road macadamization halted across the Valley. The government must resolve this issue without delay so that road work can resume.”
“This is not just delaying construction and development. It is also affecting the local economy and the livelihoods of thousands of workers and their families. Every day of delay adds to their hardship,” he added.
Apni Party President also supported the contractors’ demand for an immediate revision of the J&K Schedule of Rates (SOR), updated bitumen rates, and the implementation of the Price Index Clause to ensure fair compensation amid rising construction costs.
He said, “Contractors say bitumen prices have increased in both domestic and international markets, but the government’s Schedule of Rates (SOR) has not been updated. The government should revise the J&K SOR for bitumen immediately to match current market prices and align it with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) guidelines, so that local contractors do not suffer financial losses while carrying out public works.”
He further said, “I am told that the government demands royalty receipts for minor minerals like sand, gravel, and aggregates, yet it has failed to identify, notify, and make enough legal mining sources available. Contractors are being punished for not producing receipts for materials that the government itself has made nearly impossible to obtain legally. This is not a failure of contractors—it is a failure of governance and planning. The government cannot block the supply of essential raw materials and then penalize those carrying out public works. It must immediately identify and notify sufficient legal mining sources across Kashmir.”
Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari also demanded that the processes for contractor card renewals and CID verification be simplified
He said, “I have also been informed that lengthy procedures, delays in contractor card renewals, and repeated CID verifications are disrupting work and affecting businesses. While transparency is important, it should not lead to unnecessary delays or bureaucratic hurdles. Local contractors should be supported, not burdened with repetitive paperwork. The government should introduce a simple single-window online system for contractor card renewals and a one-time CID verification to ensure seasonal works begin on time.”
He went on to say, “One of the biggest challenges facing our contractors is the non-payment of hundreds of crores for works completed and duly verified between 2016 and 2019. This is unfair and has pushed many contractors into heavy debt and financial distress. The government must clear all verified pending payments from 2016 to 2019 without any further delay.”
The prominent party leaders who were present besides Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari during the press conference included party’s Provincial President Kahsmir Mohammad Ashraf Mir, Chief Spokesperson & State Secretary Muntazir Mohiuddin, Media Advisor Farooq Andrabi, State Youth President & Spokesperson Yawar Dilawar Mir, and others.
