RAMGARH (SAMBA): Asserting that the people desperately want assembly elections for the first time in the history of Jammu and Kashmir, Apni Party President Syed Mohammed Altaf Bukhari on Saturday said that Jammu has a major role to play in upcoming elections by isolating the divisive forces that are bent upon destroying the peaceful communal atmosphere.
The political alienation of the people is widely being felt which is why there is desperation for assembly elections for the first time unlike in the past, Altaf Bukhari said while addressing a one-day worker’s convention in Ramgarh in Samba District. The worker’s convention was organized by Advocate Sahil Bharti under the guidance of Provincial President, Jammu, S. Manjit Singh.
On this occasion, dozens of people including Advocates joined the Apni Party in presence of the Party President and other senior leaders. Altaf Bukhari welcomed them into the Party fold and hoped that their joining would strengthen the Party.
In his speech, Bukhari said BJP has betrayed the people of Jammu even after ruling Jammu and Kashmir indirectly through Lt Governor and Advisors from Delhi.
“They came to power by turning Jammu against Kashmir for political gains like NC, PDP, and Congress Party but later they betrayed the trust of the Jammuities who gave them 25 assembly seats in the erstwhile State of J&K. Within 24 hours, they joined hands with PDP and formed a coalition Govt bringing miseries for the people of both the Regions,” he said.
He further said that “BJP does not respect the sentiments of the people. They want power and to serve their political purpose.” He appreciated the people of Jammu for accommodating the people who migrated due to violence and other reasons from Kashmir and other parts of the Jammu region and settled in Jammu.
“People of Jammu have a big heart as they accommodated people from all regions, and religions including Kashmiri Pandits, Kashmiri Muslims, and others. Jammuities have maintained communal harmony despite all odds and attempts by the enemy of peace,” he added while appreciating the people in general.
He said “The historic Dogra State was downgraded into two Union Territories and Article 370 and Art 35A were scrapped for the political interest after snatching all the basic rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. As the Govt of India and its Bureaucracy are enjoying the power, they do not want assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir which are being demanded by the people of the erstwhile State from both Regions. It is for the first time after 1947 that people are demanding assembly polls as it has never happened in the history of Jammu and Kashmir.”
He said that the BJP has allowed the non-locals to extract natural resources and sell them at higher rates due to which the construction cost has increased. This emerging situation has snatched the source of employment for hundreds of local people across Jammu and Kashmir and made them helpless.
“We will not tolerate policies which are against the interest of the people. If the Apni Party forms the next Govt, we will push outside Lakhanpur all the non-locals who have exploited the natural resources,” he said.
He said that they have witnessed the BJP Rule in which no development and instead unemployment has increased manifolds with the cancellation of the selection lists. “Jammu remained the worst hit with the BJP’s selective approach and appealed to the people to give a chance to the Apni Party to form a majority Govt in Jammu and Kashmir. We are committed to providing equal opportunity for development, employment, and other opportunities,” he said.
Under the present Govt, he said one can find only outsiders as Govt officials in the Civil Secretariats and District Administration while the local Govt officials who work on merits have been sidelined.
“If we come to power, we will replace the non-local Govt officials and the local Govt officials will get the preference to ensure justice with the local population of Jammu as well as Kashmir,” he said.
For this, he asked the people to vote for the candidates of the Apni Party in the upcoming assembly elections as it would end their suffering and provide them an opportunity to get their issues resolved by their representatives.
“There is a nexus of bureaucracy that does not want assembly polls in J&K. We will not tolerate such elements who work against the interest of the people of J&K and the nation,” he added.
