Samba: Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Saturday lashed out at the ruling BJP’s aggressive and destructive policies about J&K and its people.
He was addressing a party convention at the Samba constituency in Jammu, where people and the party workers greeted him rousingly on his arrival at the venue.
According to a press release, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari while taking a dig at the BJP blamed the ruling party in Delhi for trying to undermine the constitutional and political rights of the J&K people.
“It is disturbing to see that new aggressive laws undermining the rights and interests of J&K are being brought into effect here with each passing day,” he said.
“The latest, in this regard, is the new land lease rules, which might terminate the old leases here,” he added.
He also denounced the BJP government for not restoring statehood to J&K, and not holding assembly elections here. “They say that the promise of abrogation of article 370 was in their election manifesto. But, then why did they also snatch the statehood away and divided J&K into two union territories? And, why don’t they hold elections here even after a state of normalcy is restored here? These things are creating apprehensions among the masses.”
“To elect their own representatives to place them at the helm of affairs is a democratic right of the people, and they cannot be deprived of this right for so long without any plausible reason,” he added.
Emphasising on unity among the people of Jammu and the Valley, and urging them to maintain harmony, Apni Party President said, “People of both regions ought to stand united and maintain harmony so that they can protect their constitutional rights and mutual interests. We need to initiate a movement to demand our rights such as the restoration of statehood, holding of immediate assembly polls, and reversal of hostile laws which have been brought into effect for the past some time. Jammu and Valley is a single unit and people must understand that they have mutual interests to protect. You must stand united and assert your rights.”
He assured that the Apni Party will not leave any stone unturned to protect the interests of Jammu and Kashmir. “When there was chaos and uncertainty across the J&K post-August 5, 2019, and people were apprehensive of losing their identity and even basic rights, Apni Party took the initiative and raised its voice in the corridors of power at New Delhi. We ensured agricultural land and jobs are secured for the J&K people only. We made the Union Govt announce that the people of J&K will not lose their exclusive rights on the agricultural land and jobs in J&K. Similarly, we will keep striving to resist all the hostile laws and unfriendly policies of the government.”
In his hour-long speech, Syed Mohamad Altaf Bukhari talked about the issues of the daily wagers, intensifying corruption, rising unemployment, irregularities in the selection of job aspirants, illegal mining, handing over projects to outside contractors, and so on.
He promised that the Apni Party if it gets a mandate, will ensure justice in all these matters. “Political dynasties and even BJP leaders of Jammu and Kashmir will not dare to talk about all these matters. But the Apni Party will never shy away from saying the truth to the power, that be, in New Delhi.”
“We are among the people and we will stand by the people that may come. We will never allow any injustice, discrimination, and violence of the people’s rights,” he added.
Party’s Senior Vice President Ghulam Hassan Mir while addressing the convention stressed the unity among the J&K people irrespective of their caste, creed, religion, or geographical identities. “We are one and we must understand that our unity is our strength. Our unity will enable us the power to ensure peace, prosperity, and the development of Jammu and Kashmir.”
On valence and hostile politics, Ghulam Hassan Mir said, “Until a few years ago, Kashmir was recognized as a place of turmoil and violence. The Apni Party made efforts to make our youth understand the fact that violence is our enemy and peace is our power. Apni Party believes that J&K people can get everything that matters to them through peaceful and political means.”
