SRINAGAR: Apni Party president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Thursday called for a general amnesty for people involved in militancy-related activities during the 1990s and thereafter, saying they should be given an opportunity to reintegrate into society and lead normal lives.
Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters in Srinagar, Bukhari appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to consider granting amnesty to those who, according to him, had been misled during the turmoil of the 1990s.
He said many people involved in activities during that period had since returned to the mainstream, and argued that pending police cases continued to affect their ability to secure employment and obtain passports.
Bukhari also raised concerns over the denial of police verification certificates to young people, alleging that some applicants were being denied clearance because of the past involvement of their family members in the 1990s turmoil. He said individuals should not face restrictions on employment and other opportunities because of the actions of their relatives.
On the reservation policy, the Apni Party president called for a review, arguing that the existing arrangement was affecting merit-based employment opportunities for Kashmiri youth. He claimed that nearly 70 per cent of government posts were reserved for different categories and described the policy as unfair to open-merit candidates.
He also criticised the delay in holding Panchayat and Urban Local Bodies (ULB) elections in Jammu and Kashmir, demanding that the polls be conducted without further delay.
Bukhari said around 17,000 Panches and Sarpanches were to be elected and alleged that the ruling party was deliberately delaying the elections to avoid sharing power at the grassroots level.
He further urged Jammu and Kashmir Bank to raise the upper age limit for recruitment to 40 years, citing prolonged recruitment delays and limited employment opportunities for young people in the Union Territory.
Raising the issue of electricity shortages and rising power bills, Bukhari called for a special waiver or amnesty on outstanding electricity dues for poor and economically weaker households struggling to pay their bills.
The Apni Party chief also reiterated his demand for restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, urging the Centre to fulfil its assurances without further delay.
He said the government should initiate meaningful and inclusive political dialogue with the people of Jammu and Kashmir, arguing that the absence of a sustained political process had left public grievances unaddressed.
Referring to Prime Minister Modi’s 2021 assurance to bridge the distance between Delhi and the hearts of the people, Bukhari said the commitment should be translated into concrete action.
He maintained that dialogue was necessary to rebuild public trust, strengthen peace and address concerns in the Union Territory.