Blames Azad for poor conditions of muslims, challenges him to prove he didn't vote in favour of Abrogation of Article 370
Srinagar, Sep 3 (KNS): Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party President and former Minster Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Saturday said that he is ready to unite with anyone for the restoration of statehood in Jammu and Kashmir
He further admitted that Article 370 is gone forever and no government here can bring it back and said that the political parties including PAGD are deceiving people here by saying that they are fighting for the restoration of Article 370. "We will bring back statehood in J&K for which we have to show solidarity and fight for it," he said, adding that he is ready to unite with anyone to fight this battle.
In an exclusive interview with the Kashmir News Service (KNS), the Apni Party Chief said that after the abrogation of Article 370, apni party was formed for three main objectives which include restoration of statehood, Jobs and security of the land here and the party has already achieved two goals and now only goal of statehood remains.
On being asked whether he belives that PAGD is fighting for Restoration of article 370 , he said that "it is nothing more than a deception to people as it has also contested elections here on the premise that they will restore 370 but nothing has happened yet."
About Gulam Nabi Azad's seperation from Congress and launching new party from J&K, the apni party president accused Azad of voting in favor of BJP in Parliament on revocation of article 370.
"How can he now say that he is fighting for the restoration of 370? If he had not voted in favor of the Bharatiya Janata Party at that time, Article 370 would not have been repealed, but how can he now claim that he will fight for its restoration. I challenge him to prove me wrong. For whole life, he represented various muslim areas of the country. Now see the condition of the muslims, then he is responsible for their poor condition" he said.
When asked that many in Kashmir call Apni party as B-team of BJP, "the former minister said, "these things don't matter because the party has to get votes from the people here not BJP. We will not do any false politics, we are telling the truth to the people. Apni party will always keep our promises to the people of J&K," he said.
He further said that some traditional politicians are making false promises to the people and people should be aware of it. "It's an old wine in new bottle," he said while referring new acts of traditional politicians.
Bukhari criticised the Government for not realising the youth who were taken in preventive custody before onset of Amaranath Yatra.
"During the Amarnath Yatra, many youths were kept in detention here, the government should release them now. Yatra is over. Why they are still being kept away from families. Government should responsibility from their families if they want, but should be released," he said. (KNS)