Apni Party urges Centre to address J&K people’s local, political issues

Srinagar, Jul 28: Apni Party on Monday urged the Centre to take serious measures to address the public and political issues due to which the people of Jammu and Kashmir are suffering. They said that while the Prime Minister has repeatedly stated his intention to bridge the gap between ‘Dil (heart) and Delhi,’ no effective steps have been taken in this regard.According to a statement issued here, the party’s key leaders gathered on Monday here to hold an extraordinary meeting aimed at discussing pressing public and political issues, as well as certain party matters. The crucial meeting was chaired by the party president, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari.The leaders held a comprehensive discussion during the meeting on the prevailing political and security situation, as well as pressing public issues and grievances. They shared grassroots-level feedback from their respective constituencies, highlighting key concerns of the people. The party leaders expressed serious concern over the elected government’s complete failure to address the challenges faced by the people of Jammu and Kashmir. They shared their views and opinions on a range of issues. The party’s agenda is essentially to work towards sustained peace in Jammu and Kashmir, the said. “However, given the prevailing situation, they emphasised the need for peace with dignity for the people, as many feel apprehensive and under pressure,” they added. The central government must take concrete steps to establish a sense of peace and security in the region, the leaders said, adding, “People must be able to live without fear”.The statement further said, “Unfortunately, following the Pahalgam terror attack, new arrests have been made. There are already a large number of people in jail. The government must review the cases of these prisoners, and except for those involved in heinous crimes, all should be pardoned and released to give them a chance to restart a normal life.”After the meeting, the party’s General Secretary Rafi Ahmad Mir spoke with the reporters. Responding to the questions, he said, “We have decided to continue the party’s ongoing public outreach activities in order to stand by our people. We are deeply concerned to see that the elected government has failed on every front to address the pressing public issues. This has disappointed the people, who had cast their votes with great hope and high expectations.”