We will always stand by oppressed: Bukhari

Srinagar, Nov 15: Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Wednesday said that the Apni Party will always stand by the oppressed and speak for everyone who is subjected to suffering in Jammu and Kashmir.
He was addressing a public rally in the Ijara area of north Kashmir’s Uri, the party said in a statement, adding that before the rally, Altaf Bukhari held a vibrant roadshow in the Khachardari Zenapora, Naganandi, and Ijara areas of the constituency.
Addressing the rally, Bukhari said he and his party will always stand by and speak for those who are subjected to surfing in Jammu and Kashmir. “The Apni Party is dedicated to supporting those who are oppressed or needlessly subjected to miseries and hardships. The people of Jammu and Kashmir are facing tough times and blamed the traditional political parties and their leaders for the prevailing situation,” he said.
He said, “We are enduring hardship solely because the parties and leaders whom we had entrusted with our mandate over the years betrayed our trust for their own political gains. These parties never engaged in negotiations with New Delhi for the benefit of the people of Jammu and Kashmir; instead, their aspirations were always centred on seizing power for themselves.”
Criticising the National Conference, the Apni Party chief said, “The consequences of the electoral rigging (in 1987) resulted in the tragic loss of two lakh lives in Jammu and Kashmir in the subsequent years. Once again, in 1996, the NC opted for power without actively pursuing negotiations with New Delhi for the betterment of Jammu and Kashmir’s interests.”
Talking about the sufferings of the people in Uri, Bukhari said, “The residents of this area have endured years of cross-border shelling, yet when it comes to providing essential facilities, they have been left high and dry. Despite the presence of two major hydroelectric power projects in this region, the locals have not received any economic dividends from these projects. The lack of infrastructure is evident, even in the fields of health and education here.”
He pledged that if the Apni Party gets a mandate to serve the people, it will prioritize the economic well-being of the residents of Uri. “I assure you that when we secure the mandate, we will undertake all necessary measures for the economic growth of Uri. We are committed to fostering infrastructural development in Uri to create business and job opportunities for the younger generation,” he said.