Srinagar, October 29 (KNS): Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, on Sunday, emphasised that his party advocates reconciliation as the primary approach to free the people from the extensive destruction caused by years and decades of confrontations. He urged the government to take the necessary steps for reconciliation, thereby fostering a peaceful environment in Jammu and Kashmir.
Apni Party President made these comments today while addressing a public meeting in the Soribal Konibal area of the Pampore constituency in the Pulwama district.
According to a press release issued here, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, while explaining the purpose and policies of Apni Party, said, “Recognizing the vulnerable state of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, who have suffered years of bloodshed and turmoil, Apni Party was established to ensure reconciliation, protecting the people from further losses, and making peace and prosperity a reality in this land.”
Expressing his deep concern regarding the current state of affairs, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said, “We continue to endure suppression. Many of our youth still remain jails, while those striving to build their careers confront unwarranted obstacles in job and passport verifications imposed by authorities.”
He explained it further and said, “We observe that the verifications of job applicants and passport seekers are obstructed by the concerned authorities merely because a relative of the applicant was involved in some past wrongdoing. This practice needs to be stopped to open up opportunities for our youth to flourish in their careers.”
Taking a dig at the traditional political parties and their leaders, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said, “The traditional political parties and leaders who mourn the loss of young lives in Gaza these days forget that they, while in power, ruined the lives of thousands of youth in Jammu and Kashmir by putting them in jails.”
He further said, “Over the past 70 years, these parties and their leaders deceived the public, using emotional slogans and false promises like 'Autonomy' and 'self-rule' to secure votes and power for themselves,”
“They had promised to obtain Autonomy and self-rule, but did they achieve these objectives despite being in power for years and decades? These parties formed an alliance called PAGD, claiming they would safeguard Article 370 and 35A. Did they protect these constitutional articles from being abrogated?” he asked.
Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari appealed to the people not to fall for the false promises of these political parties. He said, “It is your responsibility to convey to traditional political parties and their leaders that enough is enough. They underestimate your intelligence and repeatedly return with hollow promises. You must prevent them from exploiting your emotions.”
During his address at the rally, Apni Party’s General Secretary and former legislator, Rafi Ahmad Mir, highlighted that Apni Party was established approximately four years ago with a mission to foster political and economic empowerment for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
He said, “The formation of Apni Party in March 2020 was driven by the objective of putting an end to the political exploitation by traditional parties. These parties have ruled Jammu and Kashmir for years and decades, always misleading the people with emotional slogans and false promises. However, Apni Party does not believe in political gimmickry and deceptive politics. We are committed to ensuring the political and economic empowerment of the people of this land.”
“We aspire to achieve peace, prosperity, and development in Jammu and Kashmir. We want a Jammu and Kashmir that is free of social evils and political exploitation,” Rafi Ahmad Mir said.
The Party’s Provincial President for Kashmir, Mohammad Ashraf Mir, while addressing the public gathering, promised that Apni Party will take a series of initiatives to ensure economic benefits for the people. He said, “We are committed to the people, and when our government comes to power, we will increase marriage assistance for women to one lakh rupees, up from the existing assistance of Rs. 50,000. Additionally, widows' and old age pensions will be raised from the current Rs. 1000 to Rs. 5000 per beneficiary. Furthermore, we will provide 500 units of electricity free to consumers in the Valley during the winter and 300 units in the summer. In Jammu, 500 units of electricity will be provided free during the summer and 300 units in the winter. Moreover, if we are in government, we will provide four gas cylinders free to every household annually."
Besides Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, Rafi Ahmad Mir, and Mohammad Ashraf Mir, the prominent party leaders who were present at the venue included party spokesperson and state secretary Muntazir Mohiuddin, District President Pulwama Ghulam Mohammad Mir, In charge of Pampore constituency Mohammad Altaf Mir, Provincial President of the party's Youth wing Manzoor Ahmad Ganai, DDC Meema Ji, DDC Mansha Ji, Dr Talat Majeed, Syed Tajjalah Andrabi, Umar Jan, Surat Ul Amin, Younis Ahmad Baigh, Mohammad Younis Masoodi, Assad Ullah Dar, Marya Jan, Advocate Aaqib Hamid Malik, Farooq Ahmad Malik, Aadil Nabi Mir, and others.(KNS)