POONCH: Apni Party President Syed Mohammed Altaf Bukhari on Sunday asked the Election Commission of India and Govt of India to explain why the Assembly Elections are not being held in Jammu and Kashmir.
“The elections are being delayed without justification in J&K. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the Election Commission of India and Govt of India to explain as to why the Assembly Elections have been delayed,” said Altaf Bukhari while addressing a public rally at Mandi in Poonch District.
Bukhari said that “How can a country object to the formation of Govt in J&K? This decision has to be taken by the Election Commission of India or Govt of India as there is no role of any of the neighbouring countries.”
Therefore, he said that the Govt of India must explain why the elections are not being held in J&K.
“Who will conduct elections in J&K? As far as we know, the elections are conducted by ECI / Govt of India and no other power on this earth has any right to interfere in J&K,” he asked.
Referring to the terror attack in Poonch, he said that “We are concerned over the terror attack in which our five soldiers were martyred. Innocent people should not be harassed. However, those people who provided any kind of support to the terrorists should be handled as per the law.”
Countering those questioning the nationalism of the people, he said that “No one is more nationalist than the border residents from Kathua to Uri who have braved all odd situations and lived back in their respective border villages.”
Meanwhile, he criticized the traditional political parties for misleading the people of Jammu and Kashmir with their divisive agenda in the name of autonomy, self-rule, and other things.
“They created a wedge among the people with their false narrative and promises which could not be fulfilled. However, when they go to Delhi they speak differently. Their double faces have been exposed before the public,” he said and questioned that these politicians blame others but they themselves go to Delhi to protect themselves.
“However, Apni Party leaders go to Delhi to protect the interest of the people i.e., land, jobs, and other things so that outsiders may not grab resources or jobs,” he added.
He said that his party took risks and stood up when no other politician was ready to speak for the people of J&K who were troubled with the abrogation of special status and downgrading of J&K State into UT.
Citing an example, he said that one leader from J&K had gone to Delhi in 1947 and returned as Administrator, and for 72 years, the political parties continued to fool people on different agendas.
“We promise what can be achieved. Our agenda is peace, prosperity and equitable development in J&K. The divisive agenda adopted by traditional political parties was responsible for unaccounted deaths and destruction for the last 72 years. The people faced the brunt of divisive agenda, and these politicians enjoyed their luxury on the other hand,” he said.
The people were divided on the name of the region, religion, Pahari, Gujjar, and Kashmiri but the time has come when everyone should come forward and get united for the peace and prosperity of J&K.
He also criticized the BJP who got 25 assembly seats in the last assembly elections from Jammu and joined hands with PDP within 24 hours after the declaration of the results.
He said that both PDP and BJP were hands in the glove before polls as they campaigned against each other but formed Govt immediately after poll results.
He appealed to the people to give a majority to the Apni Party in the assembly elections to form a Govt.
He also referred to the under development in Poonch, poor infrastructure, and pending projects like tunnels, and roads which are yet to be completed. He assured that they will ensure the pending works can be completed if they form the Govt.
He also praised the people of J&K for maintaining a peaceful atmosphere after August 5, 2019.
“The credit must be given for peace to the people as well as the security forces. The situation was different and people also maintained calm. Earlier, the NC, PDP, and other political parties were responsible for instigating people which resulted in the loss of life in Kashmir for the last 72 years. However, this time, the situation has become peaceful with no incident like stone pelting,” he added.
