Shopian, March 19: Apni Party President Altaf Bukhari on Sunday expressed his concern over the rising social evils —especially the drug menace— in the Valley and blamed ‘gun culture’ for the menace.
While addressing a public rally in the Wachi constituency of south Kashmir’s Shopian district, Bukhari said the valley has faced a long phase of violence — over the past more than three decades which eventually harmed society to its core.
“We have lost our traditional values over this period of time. It hurts me to see that a large number of our young boys and girls have fallen prey to drug abuse across the Valley. This is something we must be worried about and do something to eradicate this menace and protect our youngsters,” he added.
While responding to the grievances put forward by the locals during interaction, Bukhari appealed people to use their vote sensibly in the forthcoming assembly elections.
He reiterated that Apni Party will continue its efforts to ensure the detainees are out of jail. “We are committed to pursue the cases of these detainees and try to get them out of jails so that they restart their normal life.”
He promised that Apni Party will give the mandate in the elections to someone who is trustworthy for the people of Wachi. He said, “You will select the person who must represent you in the Govt. He or she must have integrity and must be trustworthy for you.”
On this occasion, the party’s Senior Vice President Ghulam Hassan Mir said that the past rulers have failed to harness the potential of Wachi constituency.
He said, “Had this beautiful place been brought to the pilgrimage tourism map, the situation in terms of economic growth of this place would have been far better,”.
Mir said Wachi constituency deserves to be brought on the religious tourism map. “I promise you that if Apni Party gets a mandate to serve the people, we will put Wachi on the pilgrimage tourism map so that it will bring more employment opportunities and economic dividends to the local population.”
