Apni Party seeks statehood, ‘re-empowering’ elected govt in J&K

Samba, July 31: Apni Party Provincial President for Jammu, and former minister, S. Manjit Singh, expressed disappointment with the Central government’s handling of Jammu & Kashmir’s elected institutions and governance.
Speaking at a public meeting in Sarore Adda, Bari Brahmana, Samba District, Singh criticised the Central government for disempowering elected bodies and concentrating power in the hands of the Lieutenant Governor (LG) of Jammu & Kashmir.
Accompanied by ST Wing J&K President Saleem Alam, Singh, according to a statement, addressed concerns from various community members who expressed dissatisfaction with the current administration’s policies. He said the promises made post-August 5, 2019, including overall development, an end to discrimination and job creation, have not been fulfilled. “Instead, the government’s policies have increased unemployment and forced many locals to seek work outside the region,” he said.
The Apni Party leader demanded restoring statehood to Jammu & Kashmir and re-empowering its elected government.
“The people have emotional attachment with the historic state that was once ruled by the Dogra Rulers. Therefore, ignoring the growing concerns of the people in both the regions would not be a suitable decision of the Central government,” he said, adding, “It becomes important to restore the state as well as empower the elected government in J&K powerful as equal as the other governments in other states of the country.”
Singh also criticised the engagement of non-locals in various sectors, including contracts and mining, since 2019, and called for an improvement in basic amenities in Bari Brahmana. All resident should receive fair treatment, he said.
Manjit assured the public that if the Apni Party formed the government, it would prioritise addressing the people’s concerns and restoring the powers of elected institutions.