Srinagar, May 04: Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Saturday accused the traditional political parties of deliberately subjecting the residents of Srinagar City, Shehr-e-Khaas, to unnecessary sufferings, solely for their personal political advantages.
“These leaders exploited the innocence of the city dwellers by keeping them engaged in disputes like Sher-Bakra and India-Pakistan, and so on. Their aim was to keep the pot boiling and ensure their political dividends out of the turmoil,” Bukhari said while addressing a party convention in the Habba Kadal area of Srinagar’s Shehr-e-Khaas.
In his speech, he said, “It pains me to see that most of the population in downtown Srinagar endures challenging conditions marked by inadequate housing, financial constraints and a lack of employment opportunities. I know that they have been pushed into this situation over the years and decades by the traditional political parties and their leaders, who kept the people of the city busy with conflicts like Sher-Bakra, India-Pakistan, and so on, only to gain their own political advantages out of these conflicts.”
“The educated young boys and girls from the city are grappling with the lack of employment opportunities, as they neither have avenues for doing businesses nor do they fall into any reserved category to benefit from the government job markets. Many of these boys and girls have surpassed their marriageable age, either because they do not have proper avenues for earning or they lack adequate housing to raise a family,” he added.
Talking about the glorious past of downtown Srinagar, the Apni Party President remarked, “This historic city has been an epicentre of rich culture and civilisation for centuries. Moreover, this city has been the abode of the masters of different traditional crafts and skills. It is only due to political apathy, misleading narratives, and misrepresentations that the present generation finds itself grappling with challenges and dilemmas.”
However, Bukhari promised that when the Apni Party gets a public mandate to serve, it would not only create employment opportunities and modernised housing in Shere-e-Khaas but will also undertake the task of restoring the ancient glory of this historic city.
“I assure you that the Apni Party has a clear vision for the prosperity and development of this city. Once we get the mandate, we will ensure the well-being and prosperity of the people here. We will change the scenario of this Shere-e-Khaas for the better,” he said.
Bukhari also promised that he would ensure that the people who are in jail are released and back home to restart their normal lives. He appealed to people to vote for Mohammad Ashraf Mir, the party’s candidate for Srinagar, in the Lok Sabha elections. “I request you to give us a chance to serve you. This is also an opportunity for you to rid yourself of the exploitative politicians from the traditional parties. They have consistently damaged your interests through their misleading narratives and hollow promises. This is the time to choose to change for a better future,” he said.
