Jammu, Oct 06: Apni Party on Friday announced it will field candidates on all five Parliamentary seats in Jammu and Kashmir and there will be no alliance with any political party in the upcoming Parliamentary elections.
In a statement issued here, the party spokesperson and Youth Wing State Vice President Raqeeq Ahmed Khan said, “Apni Party has decided that it would field five candidates in all the Parliamentary seats in J&K without going into alliance with any other the political parties.”
“The traditional political parties have lost their ground and they are responsible for the suffering of the people. The erstwhile state has passed through difficult times in the last thirty years because of the misgovernance of these political parties,” he said.
He said the people have an opportunity to elect their MP for the Lok Sabha and therefore, the Apni Party has decided to contest the Parliamentary elections alone because people accept our manifesto in all the districts and regions of Jammu and Kashmir.
Apni Party is committed to providing 500 units of free electricity in Jammu during summers and during winters in Kashmir Valley, the spokesperson said, adding that they would enhance the old age and widow pension, provide equal opportunity to women and ensure equitable development. He also demanded statehood in Jammu and Kashmir.
Referring to the allegations of NC President Farooq Abdullah, the AP spokesperson responded that NC Vice President Omar Abdullah was the Union Minister in the year 1999 in the BJP-led Central Government.
The NC has a satisfied alliance with the BJP that changes as per the suitable situation, he said, adding, “The NC leadership is frustrated because of its shaking ground in Kashmir Valley and Jammu region.”
In Jammu, Khan said, the BJP fears that it may lose elections because of its “anti-people” policy.
PDP responsible for ‘ruining’ Waqf Board: Bukhari
Expressing profound concern over the “mismanagement” at the J&K Waqf Board, Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Friday said the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was responsible for rendering this prestigious institution a mess by bringing it under the direct control of the government during its rule in 2003.
He stated the ruling party at the time, led by Muftis, deliberately altered the autonomous stature of the Waqf Board, placing it under government control to settle political scores with its rival political party —the National Conference.
The Apni Party President made these remarks while speaking to reporters at Dargah Hazratbal, following paying his obeisance at the revered shrine.
He said, “The PDP, led by the Muftis, made a grave mistake during its tenure in government in 2003 by bringing the Waqf Board under government control, and the party did it deliberately to settle its score with its rival NC. Today, this prestigious institution grapples with a dire state of mismanagement from top to toe.”
Meanwhile, Bukhari strongly criticised the recent action taken by the Waqf Board authorities, which suspended several officers and staff members of Hazratbal Dargah, alleging negligence in their duties.
Pertinently, on the eve of Eid-ul-Milad-un-Nabi (SAW), the Chairperson of the J&K Waqf Board, Syed Darakhshan Andrabi, suspended these officers and staff members, citing “grave negligence in their duties”.
In a statement issued here, Bukhari criticised the decision to suspend the employees, stating, “If any negligence has been observed at the shrine, those in leadership positions should be held responsible, not the underprivileged employees. The leaders at the top should acknowledge their role in any mismanagement at the holy shrine and should not make the poor employees scapegoats for their inability to manage the Waqf.”
According to the party statement, the Apni Party president was warmly greeted by the shrine administration upon his arrival at the revered shrine. Besides offering Friday prayers, he took stock of the facilities provided to the devotees and worshippers at the holy shrine,” the statement said.
While engaging with the people at the dargah, Altaf Bukhari requested that they pray for sustained peace and prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir.
He remarked, “The people of Jammu and Kashmir have endured significant suffering over the past three decades due to the prolonged conflict. Even today, people continue to grapple with political uncertainty and economic challenges, including rising unemployment and inflation. It is our collective responsibility to work towards lasting peace in this region, as only enduring peace can pave the way for the prosperity and development of this land. I urge you to pray for peace, tranquillity, and harmony in Jammu and Kashmir.”
