Srinagar: Taking a dig at the Gupkar Alliance (PAGD), Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Sunday said that the traditional political parties have joined hands only for their own political gains.
He said, “Had these parties been sincere to their so-called cause, they would have shunned their individual identity to make their claims feel genuine. The truth is, these power-hungry parties are trying to hoodwink people in the name of this professed alliance.”
Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari was addressing at party’s joining ceremony in south Kashmir’s Kulgam, wherein a renowned political activist Tahir Riyaz Reshi joined the Apni Party along with his hundreds of companions.
According to a press statement issued here, the Party President while addressing the congregation said, “Apni Party believes in constructive politics, thus, we will not say or do anything which would push our youth to the bleak future or land them into the jails or graveyards.”
He added, “In post-August 5, 2019 situation, when there was evident hopelessness in whole J&K and people feared that their identity would be snatched away, Apni Party took lead to ensure protection to the rights of J&K people on their agriculture land and jobs here.”
He further said, “At the time there was total chaos and uncertainty found in J&K, and, even traditional political parties choose to be tight-lipped. Even though we had no public mandate, we met Prime Minister and made New Delhi come with a clear-cut assurance about the protection of J&K people’s right on land and jobs.”
Revealing Apni Party’s objectives for the future, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said, “We are committed to working for a better future for J&K and its people. We cannot let our youth suffer continually. We ought to put an end to the protracted conflict situation on our land. We cannot afford further misery and bloodshed on this land, as the people have already suffered a lot here.”
“Apni Party’s key agenda is to work for sustained peace, durable prosperity, and long-term development, which will eventually augur political and economic empowerment for J&K people and open up the opportunities for our youth,” he added.
On the political rights of the J&K people, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said, “Apni Party will continue to strive for the restoration of statehood to J&K, and other constitutional rights for its people.”
Demanding assembly elections here, Bukhari said that “Governor Rule cannot be alternative to an elected government in any part of the country, which is privileged to be one of the largest democracies in the world.”
He said, “J&K people must be given the right to elect their representative and a government. They should not be deprived of this fundamental right; thus, the Election Commission must ensure elections here immediately.”
