NC, PDP two sides of same coin, striving to continue their family rule: Bukhari

Srinagar, May 02: Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Thursday said that the leaders of both the National Conference (NC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) desire to continue their family rule in Jammu and Kashmir.
“However, the people will not allow the Abdullahs and Muftis to exploit them any longer,” Bukhari said while addressing a public rally in south Kashmir’s Shopian. The event, according to a statement issued here, was part of the party’s ongoing campaign for the Lok Sabha polls. The party’s Vice President, Zaffar Iqbal Manhas, also addressed the rally.
Addressing the rally, Altaf Bukhari said, “Over the decades, the traditional parties, especially the two family-based parties, have divided Jammu and Kashmir like Rajwadas to rule the people. Both the family parties, NC and PDP, were in consensus to stay at the helm of affairs alternatively. But things have now changed. They can no longer fool people through their deceptive narratives and fake promises. I am sure that their era has ended, and people will reject both political dynasties through the power of their vote.”
He urged people not to fall prey to the “deceptive slogans and fake promises” by the NC and PDP.
Bukhari promised people that the Apni Party if given the mandate to serve, would take Jammu and Kashmir to new heights of peace, prosperity, and development. Speaking specifically about Shopian, he promised that the Apni Party, once given a public mandate to serve, will transform Shopian into a modern city.
He said, “I know that orchardists here are unable to afford refrigerated vehicles to ferry the fruit to outside markets, thus facing losses as the perishable fruit sometimes gets spoiled during transportation. Apni Party’s government will ensure a 50 percent subsidy in the fare charges of refrigerated vehicles. Also, I promise you that our government will ensure the waiver of the due interest amount on the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) to provide relief to the people.”
The Apni Party chief reiterated the party’s intention to provide 500 units of free electricity to domestic consumers across Jammu and Kashmir. He said that his government would provide relief to people living below the poverty line by addressing their outstanding electricity bills.
Altaf Bukhari also promised that his government would ensure the return of jailed youth to their homes, allowing them to resume their normal lives with their families.
Addressing the rally, Zaffar Iqbal Manhas, the party’s candidate for the Lok Sabha polls in the Rajouri-Anantnag constituency, said, “To me, these elections are solely for development and prosperity. I assure you that I will leave no stone unturned to ensure the well-being of my people and the development of this place.”
He said that parties like the NC and PDP have been deceiving people for years and decades through “emotional sloganeering”. “Both parties are responsible for the killings and bloodshed in Jammu and Kashmir. I wonder how these parties and their leaders muster the courage to face the people and seek their votes despite their role in the deaths and destruction on this land. It is your responsibility to reject them through your vote. Don’t allow them to exploit you further,” he said.