Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) on Monday strongly urged the government “to declare July 13 as a gazetted holiday in memory of the martyrs of 1931.”
It also demanded that “this Martyrs’ Day be observed at the state level, as it used to be.”
Apni Party president Mohammad Altaf Bukhari made these demands today during a party’s workers’ convention in south Kashmir’s Pulwama.
After the convention, Bukhari spoke with the media and said that the elected government had not been able to deliver even one percent of its manifesto in the eight months it has been in power now.
He also demanded release of the prisoners, saying that those who had engaged in stone-pelting in the past were actually misled by leaders of certain parties.
Bukhari also accused the ruling party of deceiving people through “false promises and fake slogans” during the assembly elections.
“The ruling party had told us that it would provide 200 units of free electricity to every household, but ended up announcing this benefit only for households under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) category — who make up less than one percent of the population. Yet, even this is just an announcement and has not been implemented, despite them being in power for eight months.”
“Similarly, this government had promised to enhance the ration quota for consumers. Moreover, it had boasted that it would provide one lakh jobs within three months of coming to power. Likewise, the ruling party had urged people to vote for it, claiming it would bring back the abrogated Articles 370 and 35A.
“None of these promises have been fulfilled by this government. I don’t even see it making any effort to ensure that the Centre restores statehood to J&K,” Bukhari said.
About the “rumours” that the restoration of statehood will lead to holding of fresh elections, thereby putting the NC government at risk, Bukhari said, “This government is in danger only because of its underperformance and its failure to fulfill promises made to the people. Otherwise, it has a strong mandate for a full five-year term.”
The Apni Party president also urged people to hold the MLAs they have voted to power accountable. “It is your right to make them accountable”.
Former legislator and party’s general secretary Rafi Ahmad Mir said, “Due to the events of August 5, 2019, Jammu and Kashmir was plunged into chaos and uncertainty. After the BJP government at the Centre revoked J&K’s special status and bifurcated the state into two Union Territories, people grew apprehensive about losing their remaining rights as well.
“At that time, we, the former MLAs, MLCs, and ministers, deliberated and discussed the situation, and finally decided to step forward to stand by our people. That is how this party (Anbi Party) was formed in March 2020. After its establishment, we held consultations with leaders in Delhi and pursued our case. We successfully convinced the Centre that the people of J&K should retain their exclusive rights over agricultural land and local jobs,” Mir claimed.
Provincial president Mohammad Ashraf Mir expressed concern over the plight of prisoners and said that nobody even talks about this important issue here.
“Neither the government nor the opposition is talking about the prisoners. The politicians currently in power exploited people by making a range of promises, all of which have turned out to be fake. I have not heard even a single member speak about the detainees during the assembly session. This is an unfortunate situation,” he said.
He also expressed concern over the growing unemployment.
