Srinagar, Jul 17: Apni Party’s Senior Vice President, Ghulam Hassan Mir, on Thursday appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to initiate a dialogue with the people of Jammu and Kashmir to understand their grievances and address the issues and problems they are facing.
“People here are ready and willing to move forward on the path of peace and harmony, and they need to be responded to positively. The trust deficit between Jammu and Kashmir and the Centre needs to be addressed, and the Prime Minister himself must take the initiative in this regard,” Mir said while addressing a workers’ convention in central Kashmir’s Budgam district.Taking a dig at the ruling party in Jammu and Kashmir, Mir accused it of deceiving people through fake promises during the elections. He said, “They (the ruling party) boasted that after winning the elections, they would get Article 370 and statehood restored. This promise was a blatant lie, simply because even after winning the elections, it is not within the party’s authority to restore these things. That is why I am saying they deceived people with fake promises.”He further said, “The alliance called PAGD was also a deception. At the time, the parties affiliated with it claimed that PAGD would fight for the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A. What happened to this alliance? It was created solely to mislead people and secure their votes.”The Apni Party leader expressed concern that poor and marginalised people, who used to receive monthly assistance from the Social Welfare Department, are now running from pillar to post for the same. “This is despite the fact that we now have an elected government in place,” he said.“Government employees whose General Provident Fund (GPF) withdrawals have been sanctioned are unable to receive their payments. Similarly, retired government employees are not able to get their gratuity released under this government,” he added.Addressing the occasion, the party’s Vice President Javaid Mustafa Mir expressed grave concern over what he termed as the lack of accountability in the system under the present government. He accused the elected government of failing to fulfil the promises it had made to the people.Party’s General Secretary Rafi Ahmad Mir urged workers to get organised and active to further strengthen the party. Mir said the Apni Party will leave no stone unturned in raising public issues and demanding their prompt redressal.Party’s Provincial President, Mohammad Ashraf Mir, said, “I am surprised that even opposition parties like the BJP and PDP are failing to fulfil their responsibility to highlight public issues and ensure they are addressed by the government.”Party’s Chief Spokesperson and state secretary, Muntazir Mohiuddin, urged people not to “fall prey once again to the fake promises and emotional sloganeering of traditional political parties when they come seeking votes in the upcoming elections”. President of Youth Wing, Yawar Mir, urged the people of Budgam to encourage their youth to come forward and become their representatives.
