Srinagar, Oct 29: Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Sunday emphasised that his party advocates reconciliation as the primary approach to free the people from the extensive destruction caused by years and decades of confrontations. He urged the government to take the necessary steps for reconciliation, thereby fostering a peaceful environment in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to a press release issued here, Bukhari while addressing a public meeting in the Soribal Konibal area of the Pampore constituency in the Pulwama district, said, “Recognising the vulnerable state of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, who have suffered years of bloodshed and turmoil, Apni Party was established to ensure reconciliation, protecting the people from further losses, and making peace and prosperity a reality in this land.”
Expressing his deep concern regarding the current state of affairs, he said, “We continue to endure suppression. Many of our youth still remain in jails, while those striving to build their careers confront unwarranted obstacles in job and passport verifications imposed by authorities.”
“We observe that the verifications of job applicants and passport seekers are obstructed by the concerned authorities merely because a relative of the applicant was involved in some past wrongdoing. This practice needs to be stopped to open up opportunities for our youth to flourish in their careers,” he added.
Taking a dig at the traditional political parties and their leaders, Altaf Bukhari said, “The traditional political parties and leaders who mourn the loss of young lives in Gaza these days forget that they, while in power, ruined the lives of thousands of youth in Jammu and Kashmir by putting them in jails. Over the past 70 years, these parties and their leaders deceived the public, using emotional slogans and false promises like ‘Autonomy’ and ‘self-rule’ to secure votes and power for themselves.”
“They had promised to obtain Autonomy and self-rule, but did they achieve these objectives despite being in power for years and decades? These parties formed an alliance called PAGD, claiming they would safeguard Article 370 and Article 35A. Did they protect these constitutional articles from being abrogated?” he asked.
Bukhari appealed to the people not to fall for the false promises of these political parties. He said, “It is your responsibility to convey to traditional political parties and their leaders that enough is enough. They underestimate your intelligence and repeatedly return with hollow promises. You must prevent them from exploiting your emotions.”
During his address at the rally, the party’s General Secretary and former legislator, Rafi Ahmad Mir highlighted that the Apni Party was established approximately four years ago with a mission to foster political and economic empowerment for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Party’s Provincial President for Kashmir, Mohammad Ashraf Mir, on the occasion said, “We are committed to the people, and when our government comes to power, we will increase marriage assistance for women to one lakh rupees, up from the existing assistance of Rs 50,000. Additionally, widows’ and old age pensions will be raised from the current Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 per beneficiary. Furthermore, we will provide 500 units of electricity free to consumers in the Valley during the winter and 300 units in the summer. In Jammu, 500 units of electricity will be provided free during the summer and 300 units in the winter. Moreover, if we are in government, we will provide four gas cylinders free to every household annually.”
