JAMMU: Apni Party President Syed Mohammed Altaf Bukhari has directed party leaders to gear up public outreach programmes in the wake of the upcoming Urban Local Body and Panchayati Raj elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
As per a press release, Altaf Bukhari chaired an important meeting here at the Apni Party Office in Gandhi Nagar, Jammu where senior provincial leaders, district presidents and heads of different wings held threadbare discussion regarding the party activities and its strengthening of the party roots across Jammu Region.
In this meeting, the Apni Party leaders from across Jammu Region attended the meeting and they discussed various issues faced by the people in all the districts during the deliberation.
In his address, Altaf Bukhari directed that the party leaders and cadre on the ground should prepare for the Urban Local Body and Panchayati Raj elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
He also directed to gear up the membership drive and public outreach programme while highlighting the public grievances for early redressal.
“For last several years, the absence of an elected Govt in Jammu and Kashmir has created a situation that has annoyed the people because multiple issues surfaced across the erstwhile state of J&K, especially in Jammu plains,” he said.
He said that the unilateral decision of the authorities to install smart meters and inflated electricity bills has overburdened the pockets of masses in Jammu plains.
“The continuous functioning of toll plaza on Jammu – Pathankot National Highway despite protests in Jammu – Samba – Kathua, underdevelopment, unemployment, and drug addiction are such issues that has affected the normal life of the people, and they want these issues should be addressed in a humanitarian way,” he said.
He asked the Party leaders to intensify their door-to-door campaign across the region and help the people by highlighting their issues.
“The people in J&K have remained victims of divisive politics and therefore, they should be provided unbiased representation,” he said addressing the party leaders.
He expressed surprise as to why the Assembly Elections are being delayed in Jammu and Kashmir when the people in Jammu and Kashmir Regions equally demand the restoration of Statehood and democratic system.
He however appreciated that the Urban Local Body and Panchayati elections will be held in J&K.
“We need to prepare for the UBL and Panchayat elections,” he directed again and appreciated the role of party leaders in Jammu region’s each district where the party has garnered support.
He said that the party has given a ray of hope to the people with its equitable development in all the regions, and protection of the rights of the locals, their natural resources, land and employment.
He asked the leaders to educate people about the Apni Party’s policy and agenda.
Earlier, he discussed the political scenario in J&K with the Party leaders and stressed on the need for Assembly Elections that would provide relief to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
He said: “The bureaucracy has failed to come up to the expectation of the people and hence, it has taken many anti-people decisions leading to mistrust among the people against the authorities. The mistrust and feeling of alienation among the people must be addressed by holding elections and restoring statehood to the historic state of Jammu and Kashmir.”