Jammu, May 07: Apni Party president Syed Mohammed Altaf Bukhari on Sunday said that the situation in the Jammu region has become alarming with the subsequent involvement of the “non-local mafia” in the extraction of natural resources and liquor trade.
Instead of listening to the grievances and addressing them, Bukhari said the Lieutenant Government-led administration has “given rise to the mafia system in Jammu by engaging contractors from outside in extraction of natural resources which has unemployed over 10 lakh people who were associated with the trade as contractors, tractor trolley owners, drivers and others”.
He was speaking at a one-day workers’ convention at Paloura which was organized by SC State Coordinator, Bodh Raj Bhagat, and OBC Wing State Vice President, Bhagat Ram.
“You can see the government has given licenses to open liquor shops in every nook and corner of Jammu as they are part of liquor mafia from outside J&K. The Jammuites have opposed but no one listens to them,” he said and criticized the government for turning deaf ears to the suffering of Dogra.
“Apni Party does not promote liquor, or the mafia system. We will show them the doors if we form the next government. We will protect the rights of the locals. The jobs, land, and natural resources belong to the locals, and no outsider will be allowed to grab them,” he said, adding “Apni Party will work for equitable development, employment, and protection of rights of the people while promoting brotherhood among the communities. We are not those who speak double. We do not mislead the people by speaking one thing in Kashmir, another in Jammu and something else in Delhi.”
Bukhari also offered rich tributes to the five Army soldiers who were martyred in an encounter with terrorists in Rajouri.
He said that “The LG administration has failed to maintain peace and tranquility in the region which remained intact even during the peak of terrorism in the ‘90s. The people from Poonch, Rajouri, parts of Chenab Valley and Kashmir migrated to Jammu and settled here. The people from all regions lived in peace and brotherhood in Jammu.”
Bukhari complimented Jammuites for their contribution to the peace and for accommodating the terror-hit migrations in Jammu. “The people of Jammu have big hearts. They welcomed all and allowed them to share water, electricity, land, and jobs. They always maintained communal harmony and peace,” he said while lauding Dogras of Jammu,” he said.
Meanwhile, dozens of people joined the Apni Party and were welcomed by chairman Altaf Bukhari and other senior leaders, the statement said.
