Srinagar: Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Friday urged the people of the Budgam Assembly constituency to extend their support to the party’s candidate, Mukhtar Ahmad Dar, in the upcoming Assembly elections.
He appealed while addressing a party convention in the Humhama area of the constituency today.
Addressing the occasion, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari reminded people how the leaders of traditional parties come to the people only when they need their votes.
He said, “Do you remember when Jammu and Kashmir was stripped of its 200-year-old statehood, special status, and other constitutional rights on August 5, and the leaders of traditional parties chose to remain silent at that crucial time? They remained absent when people needed them the most following the unfortunate events of August 5, 2019. They come to you only to seek your votes so that they can attain power for themselves.”
“Today is the by-election, and it is clear that these elections are not meant to form a government. Yet, I appeal to you to support the Apni Party candidate so that he can raise your issues before the government. Apni Party candidate Mukhtar Ahmad Dar belongs to you—he is one of you, and he understands your issues and problems. Therefore, he truly deserves to represent you. I assure you that he will not disappoint you but will do everything possible to have the pressing public issues of this constituency resolved,” he added.
Taking dig at the traditional political parties, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said, “These parties and their leaders have always served the interests of New Delhi at the cost of the interests of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. They helped disband the posts of Chief Minister and Sadr-i-Riyasat, and facilitated bringing J&K under the jurisdiction of the Election Commission of India and the Supreme Court, thereby depriving J&K of its special constitutional position. Did they get anything in return from New Delhi during all these eight decades?”
He went on to say, “Today they speak highly about the prisoners and claim that they want their release. Ask them — if they are really concerned about the detainees, then why were the leaders and common people arrested and sent to jails outside J&K during the times when these parties held power here? They are lying when they claim that they want the release of prisoners or the restoration of things like Article 370 and Article 35A. They are misleading you just to grab your votes. You must not fall prey to their false promises and emotional slogans. Use your vote wisely. Support the Apni Party candidate, who will be answerable to you once elected.”
