Aaqib Khan

Srinagar, Oct 15 (KNS): Apni Party senior vice president and former minister Ghulam Hassan Mir on Thursday said his party played a key role in safeguarding the land and employment rights of Jammu and Kashmir residents following the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019.

In an interview with a media organisation, Mir said the Apni Party was formed in March 2020 under the leadership of Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari amid widespread uncertainty over the region's future.

He said people feared demographic changes, loss of employment opportunities and restrictions on their land rights following the constitutional changes.

"We did not step forward to attain power at that time. We wanted to help people get through those troubling times and protect their rights," Mir said.

He claimed that Apni Party leaders met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to convey public concerns and seek safeguards for local residents.

Mir said the party's efforts contributed to the introduction of domicile provisions aimed at protecting employment opportunities for Jammu and Kashmir residents.

"We also ensured that a domicile law was introduced to ensure that only residents of J&K could purchase land and secure jobs here," he claimed.

He urged the elected government to seek stronger domicile safeguards, suggesting that the existing 15-year residency requirement should be extended to 50 years.

Referring to PDP president Mehbooba Mufti's recent call for political unity over the restoration of statehood, Mir said the Apni Party had made similar appeals before the Assembly elections.

He alleged that the National Conference, PDP and other parties had earlier dismissed statehood as a minor issue while promising restoration of Articles 370 and 35A.

"We are still ready to join hands with everyone in the struggle for achievable goals.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelThis is a shared issue, not just one party's issue. We are all stakeholders," he said.

Mir, however, questioned the seriousness of other political parties, saying any collective struggle required a clear strategy rather than political statements.

Criticising the National Conference government, Mir alleged that it had failed to fulfil several electoral commitments despite completing two years in office.

He questioned the government's position on providing 200 units of free electricity, saying the party had initially promised the benefit to every consumer but later restricted it to Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) families.

Mir also questioned the government's performance under the Union Territory administration, saying the division of powers between the elected government and the Lieutenant Governor should not become an excuse for poor governance.

He reiterated his party's support for the restoration of statehood but said the elected government must deliver on issues within its jurisdiction.

Referring to his political career, Mir said he had opposed the National Conference leadership in 1984 over what he described as its failure to honour electoral commitments.

He also recalled his role in the formation of the PDP under Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, saying the party was originally intended to provide a democratic alternative to the National Conference.

Mir said the PDP initially earned public goodwill during its tenure from 2002 to 2005 but later failed to meet expectations, particularly after entering into an alliance with the BJP in 2014.

He criticised what he described as the concentration of power within political families, saying parties should encourage internal democracy and allow new leadership to emerge.

Mir maintained that Apni Party would continue supporting efforts to secure Jammu and Kashmir's rights and the restoration of statehood. (KNS)