Srinagar: Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Saturday urged the Centre to restore dialogue with the people, especially the youth of Jammu and Kashmir, to build confidence and end the negative environment.
He said this is the appropriate time to address mistrust and negativity through meaningful dialogue.
Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari also urged the J&K government to take steps for the immediate conduct of Panchayat and Urban Local Bodies (ULB) elections. He further demanded that the existing reservation policy be rationalised.
The Apni Party President made these remarks while addressing a workers’ convention in Charar-e-Sharief.
He said that by holding Assembly elections in 2024, one tier of the democratic process had been completed. However, to ensure grassroots empowerment and strengthen democratic institutions, Panchayat and ULB polls must be held without further delay.
He added that grassroots empowerment through Panchayat and ULB polls was mentioned in the LG’s address to the House, but it appears that the elected government is not serious about conducting these elections.
Expressing concern over rising unemployment, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari demanded that the government take concrete measures to create job opportunities for the youth. He said that, unfortunately, the recently passed budget contains nothing substantial to generate employment. He also stressed that the existing reservation policy must be rationalised to ensure fairness and balance.
Accusing the ruling NC and the Opposition BJP, along with their leaders, of dividing people for personal and political gains, he said both parties are hand in glove and are advancing each other’s agenda.
He alleged that the NC criticises the BJP merely to gain people’s support in the Valley, while the BJP does the same to secure public backing in Jammu. By doing so, he said, both parties reap political dividends at the cost of people’s unity and regional harmony.
In his speech, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari explained how and why the Apni Party was established on March 8, 2020, when Jammu and Kashmir and its people were going through a period of distress and chaos following the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A.
He said, “On August 5, 2019, the central government shocked us by revoking the special constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir through the abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcating the erstwhile state into two Union Territories. This decision created widespread apprehension about potential demographic changes in the region. During those testing times, we took a bold stand and stepped forward to form an organisation to engage with leaders in the Union Government. We met the Prime Minister and the Home Minister and urged them to safeguard the special rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly regarding land and employment.”
He added, “Our efforts led to the introduction of the domicile law, ensuring that no one can purchase land or secure government employment in Jammu and Kashmir unless they have resided here for at least 15 years. This residency period can be extended if an elected government has the will to do so.”
“If the present government is sincere in protecting the interests of the people, it should consider increasing the residency requirement for obtaining a domicile certificate from the current 15 years to 50 years,” Bukhari added.
The Apni Party President said that traditional regional leaders, especially those led by two families, have been exploiting people through deceitful slogans and false promises. He urged the public to stop falling prey to such deceptions.
He said, “Your victimisation and exploitation by these traditional parties and their leaders have been going on for decades. Unfortunately, you have allowed them to exploit you. At one point in history, you even chanted self-insulting slogans. Then we saw how they treated people like those vegetables. At the very least, you must now stop following the same parties and their leaders blindly.”
“These parties and their leaders are responsible for our miseries. They have consistently engaged in political gimmickry, allowing the rights of the people to be undermined for their own political gains,” he said.
Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said that in the 2024 Assembly elections, the Apni Party suffered only because it did not resort to lies or false promises.
He said, “We lost only because we believe in the politics of truthfulness and integrity. Unlike others, we do not believe in fake promises or unachievable goals. We say openly that New Delhi has given us deep wounds. There is no doubt about it. However, we also believe that solace for our wounds will come from New Delhi, not from anywhere else. This is the truth, and we will continue to say it.”
Speaking on the occasion, the party’s prominent leader and Chairman of the Parliamentary Affairs Committee (PAC) said, “The parties that claimed during the elections that they would restore Article 370 were simply lying. Article 370 was abrogated by Parliament. We can reinstate it only when we have a majority in Parliament, and that is unlikely.”
He further said, “After the events of August 5, thousands of people were jailed, and the Apni Party played a role in securing the release of 3,200 prisoners. That was our contribution at that time.”
Addressing the event, party General Secretary Rafi Ahmad Mir spoke about the local public issues and grievances faced by people in Budgam. He said, “During our interaction with the public and party workers here, we learned about the pressing issues they are grappling with. I assure you that we will bring these matters to the notice of the concerned officials and ensure their prompt redressal.”
While speaking to the gathering, the party’s Media Advisor, Farooq Andrabi, urged people to strengthen the Apni Party and support its vision. He asked them not to fall for the tricks of old political parties or be misled again by repeated false promises. He urged the public to participate in democracy in a careful and responsible manner and to support leaders who believe in honesty, accountability, and genuine public welfare.
Other prominent party leaders who spoke on the occasion or were present included Spokesperson and Youth Wing President Yawar Dilawar Mir; District President Budgam, Owase Ashraf Shah; District President Shopian, Advocate Gowhar; Constituency In-charge for Budgam District and Senior Vice District President Mukhtar Ahmad Dar; Spokesperson Ishrat Bhat; Shaista Ji; Ghulam Hassan; Ghulam Nabi Dar; Irfan Mukhtar Sofi; Imtiyaz Ahmad Dar; Ghulam Hassan Kumar; Ayaz Ahmad Najar; Riyaz Ahmad Dar; Jahangir Ahmad; Latief Ahmad Dar; Javed Ahmad Khanday; Basharat Khanday; Abdul Majeed; Mohammad Shafi Mir; and others.DD
Special Correspondent, Kashmir.