Standing firmly with the people in these challenging times is our responsibility; they need us now more than ever
JK News Today
Srinagar, November 5: Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Thursday called upon party leaders and workers to stand firmly with the people during these challenging times, when growing uncertainty, despair and insecurity have left them struggling to find hope and direction.
He said that at a time when traditional political parties, particularly the ruling party, have failed to provide people with much-needed relief, hope and direction, Apni Party has an important responsibility to step forward and provide the leadership, guidance and reassurance that people need in these challenging times.
Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari made these remarks while addressing a provincial-level meeting of the party at its headquarters in Srinagar. The meeting focused on reviewing the prevailing political situation, assessing public concerns and gathering feedback from the grassroots. It was attended by senior party leaders and prominent workers representing different parts of the Valley.
He said, “Jammu and Kashmir is going through a period of serious political uncertainty. A growing sense of insecurity and anxiety has taken hold among the people, largely because of the misgovernance and failures of the elected government.”
He emphasised that Apni Party has an important role to play in guiding the people, raising their pressing concerns and grievances, and pursuing their resolution while working towards a more secure and promising future for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
“People have gradually lost faith in traditional political parties. Their hollow promises, political rhetoric and repeated failures to deliver have left the public deeply disappointed. Amid the prevailing uncertainty and insecurity, people are increasingly worried about what the future holds for them,” he said.
“At this critical juncture, Apni Party must rise to the occasion and fulfil its responsibility towards the people. We must stand by them, provide hope and direction, and work to restore their confidence in a better future. Our commitment is to ensure that every individual can live with dignity and self-respect, hold their head high, and see Jammu and Kashmir move forward on the path of development, progress and prosperity,” he added.
He said that “Apni Party must once again play a constructive role in the larger interest and betterment of the people, just as it did against all odds in the aftermath of August 5, 2019.”
He said that, at the time, the situation in Jammu and Kashmir was grim, with chaos and uncertainty prevailing everywhere. People were gripped by a sense of hopelessness and feared losing everything, including their identity and all the rights, in the aftermath of August 5. However, the Apni Party chose not to remain a silent spectator. Instead, it stepped forward to stand by the people, took up their concerns, and decided to engage with the Government of India to safeguard their rights and protect their interests.
“At that critical juncture, the party’s leadership stepped forward to safeguard the exclusive rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir over land and jobs and to ensure that no demographic changes were allowed to alter the Muslim-majority character of the region. This was our greatest contribution during that challenging period,” he added.
He went on to say, “Similarly, Apni Party will once again take the initiative to urge the Centre to initiate a meaningful dialogue with the people of Jammu and Kashmir, with the aim of bridging the prevailing trust deficit and ensuring that their genuine concerns and issues are effectively addressed.”
“We will engage with the Government of India and impress upon it the importance of restoring hope among the J&K people, safeguarding their rights, and guiding Jammu and Kashmir towards a path of sustained peace, prosperity and development,” he added.
Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari also spoke about the pressing political, economic and other challenges confronting the people, emphasising the need to work towards a better and more secure future for the youth.
He said, “Apni Party must intensify its efforts to ensure that those languishing in jails get a fair opportunity to return to their families, rebuild their lives and live with dignity.”
He also stressed that young people should not be denied passports, as such restrictions limit their ability to explore employment, education and livelihood opportunities outside Jammu and Kashmir.
Emphasising the need to give the younger generation every opportunity to shape their future, he said that the youth must be allowed to pursue their ambitions, build successful careers and lead lives of dignity and self-respect.
“We are committed to fighting for the dignity, honour and rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that our people can live a dignified life, with respect, pride and equal opportunities,” he said.
Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukahri further said, “Jammu and Kashmir’s biggest challenge today is tackling rising unemployment and ensuring a secure and brighter future for our youth. It is not enough to merely engage and involve young people; we need to also create meaningful opportunities that empower them to realise their potential and build a better future. Addressing their economic concerns, expanding employment opportunities and tackling the challenges they face must remain among our top priorities.”
He further said, “Apni Party stands firmly for the empowerment of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He accused the ruling National Conference (NC) of denying people their right to grassroots democracy and said that the Apni Party would take all necessary measures to press the government to hold Panchayat and Urban Local Bodies (ULB) elections without any further delay.”
He said, “Both the NC and the BJP are responsible for depriving people of their democratic and constitutional right to elect their own representatives. He argued that the MLAs belonging to both parties have become beneficiaries of this denial of grassroots democracy and, therefore, had little incentive to ensure that these elections were held.”
The prominent party leaders who were present in the meeting included Vice President Javaid Mustafa Mir, Vice President Haji Mohammad Syed Akhoon, General Secretary Rafi Ahmad Mir, Additional General Secretary Hilal Ahmad Shah, Chief Coordinator & District President Kulgam Abdul Majeed Paddar, Provincial President Kashmir Mohammad Ashraf Mir, Chief Spokesperson & State Secretary Muntazir Mohiudin, Media Advisor Farooq Andrabi, President Women’s Wing Dilshad Shaheen, State Youth President & Spokesperson Yawar Dilawar Mir, Provincial Vice President Kashmir Jag Mohan Sing Raina, Provincial Vice President Kashmir Ghulam Mohammad Mir, Provincial Vice President Kashmir Hakikat Singh, District President Kupwara Raja Manzoor, State Secretary Organisation & Spokesperson Dr Harbaksh Singh, Spokesperson Ishrat Bashir, District President Srinagar & Constituency In-charge Central Shaltang Zaffar Habib, District President Budgam Advocate Owais Ashraf Shah, District President Ganderbal Javaid Mir, District President Pulwama Dr Samiullah, District President Baramulla Shabir Ahmad Shah, District President Shopain Advocate Gowhar Hussain Wani, District President Anantnag Mufti Sarwar, District President Bandipora Syed Shafat Qazmi and other leaders and District Committee Members.
