SRINAGAR: Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Thursday observed that people of Jammu and Kashmir are being deprived of a constitutionally guaranteed democratic set-up which is adding to the alienation among masses in the region.
Bukhari was addressing a Party workers meeting of Shopian district at its office in Srinagar.
Taking a strong exception to the remarks made by Lt. Governor on bi-annual ‘Darbar’ move of shifting capitals from Jammu to Srinagar and vice versa, Bukhari said that Apni Party won’t allow any further divisions of Jammu and Kashmir on regional and emotional basis.
“The annual Darbar move symbolized a cultural exchange and an economic opportunity for the people of two regions and it cannot be ceased arbitrarily. Stopping this centuries old practice means that you are creating an emotional wedge between the people of two divisions,” he remarked.
Taking a strong exception to &K’s government’s agreement to relinquish 258 MW Dulhasti Power Project- Stage II to NHPC, Bukhari said that the move would have serious and far reaching politico-economic implications.
He said Dulhasti Power Project Stage-II was a clean and comparatively less complex project with all requisite clearances in hand and was not at all difficult to be taken up exclusively by the Chenab Valley Power Projects Pvt. Ltd (CVPPL) without involving outside partners.
“Such a decision regarding handing over Dulhasti Power Project-II to NHPC will undermine the economic interests and political power of Jammu and Kashmir. It will further disempower the citizens of J&K who have been aspiring for the return of power projects from NHCP,” he added.
He said the J&K government must rectify its dereliction of duty in protecting the public assets by immediately taking back the possession of Dulhasti Power Project-II in order to prevent the economic losses besides protecting the local employment in Chenab Valley.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the function, Bukhari said that it is not only twenty two employees who have been terminated from the service for militant links but the government has terminated 80 Lakh Kashmir Muslims as they find no representation in administration.
Referring to present UT administration, Bukhari said: “You are a tenant here, you have to go back. One day you will have to hold elections here and we will hold you accountable for the resources of Jammu and Kashmir you have sold”.
