Srinagar, September 27 (KNS): Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Sunday said that the ruling National Conference (NC) must be held accountable if any demographic change occurs in Jammu and Kashmir, asserting that it is the government’s responsibility to prevent any such attempt.

Addressing Chief Minister Omar Abdullah directly, Mr Bukhari asked “Who allowed Mumbai-based Chawla Sahib to purchase land for a hotel in Syedpora and a Delhi-based company to acquire 150 kanals in Chatterhama Hazratbal, despite the fact that such activities are not permissible under the existing domicile laws of Jammu and Kashmir?”

Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari made these remarks today while addressing a vibrant public meeting at Natipora (Rambagh Khal) in Srinagar’s Chanapora constituency.

On this occasion, he appealed Prime Minister to initiate a direct dialogue with the people of Jammu and Kashmir to address their issues and grievances.

He said, “The prevailing trust deficit will not end until direct talks are held between the Centre and the people, particularly the youth of Jammu and Kashmir. It is of utmost importance that the “Dil aur Dilli ki dooriyan” (the gap between hearts and the Centre) be bridged through meaningful dialogue. Such engagement could help address the pressing issues and grievances that the people of J&K are currently grappling with.”

“Why shouldn’t there be a trust deficit? Our youth are suffering with a range of issues. They are not been given police verification reports which are mandated for attaining passports and jobs. Many of our young people have been languishing in jails for years, even decades. Many others are frequently called to police stations. After all, our youth too deserve the opportunity to live a dignified and peaceful life. These are real issues, and they cannot be ignored. Until these issues are addressed, the prevailing trust deficit will continue to exist.”

Taking a dig at the ruling party, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said that it is least bothered about addressing public issues. He said that “two years have passed since the government came to power, yet not a single promise that the ruling party made to the people while seeking their votes has been fulfilled.”

Addressing the people directly, he said, “You voted for the NC, believing its promises that it would ensure restoration of Articles 370 and 35A and restoration of statehood. In doing so, you forgot the history of the party’s deceptive promises, which it has been making to the people for decades to secure votes and attain power.”

He went on to say, “In 1953, the party raised the slogan of ‘Raishumari’ (Plebiscite), but eventually ended up accepting the Chief Minister’s chair in 1975 with the support of the very same Congress whose leaders the NC had once derogatorily described as ‘Gandi Nali Ke Keeday’ (cockroaches from the sewer). In 2000, it passed a resolution in the Assembly seeking greater autonomy, but later did not pursue it. Even after returning to power in 2009, the NC government did not take any initiative to pursue this so-called autonomy demand during its tenure, simply because it was never serious about the demand. It was merely a slogan to secure votes.”

“During its tenure from 2009 to 2014, the NC government only killed people here. Even today, the NC and PDP continue to accuse each other over their respective records of innocent killings during their tenures,” he added.

Expressing his displeasure over the continued disruptions and daily uproar in the J&K Assembly, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said that the people had given the ruling party a decisive mandate with the expectation that it would use the Assembly to address their pressing concerns and deliver on its commitments.

He said that “people expected the government to come up with concrete initiatives to generate employment opportunities, address the issue of detainees, and fulfil the promises made to them during the election campaign including the providing 200 units of free electricity and free gas cylinders. These are issues that directly affect the lives and livelihoods of ordinary people and deserve serious attention in the Assembly.”

Talking about the issues of the Srinagar’s downtown, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said, “People in Shehr-e-Khaas are being forced to live in miserable and extremely difficult conditions. Residents face a severe shortage of adequate housing, with three to four families often compelled to live in one houses. And, even these congested houses are not fit for habitation. City continues to suffer from a serious lack of basic infrastructure. Youth in city have no access to employment and livelihood opportunities. This is not merely a failure of development but it is a failure to recognise the legitimate needs and aspirations of the people.”

“Poverty is painfully evident in the city, to the extent that thousands of young women have crossed the marriageable age, yet their parents are unable to arrange their marriages simply because they cannot afford the expenses involved. Similarly, youth unemployment in the city is at its peak. Is this really the destiny we have chosen for our historic city?” he asked.

He also highlighted the issues being faced by the resident in Chanapora constituency.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelHe said, “I am fully aware of the issues that people in this constituency are facing. Some areas are being punished because of their political affiliation with the Apni Party. The marriage hall, stadium, and some other infrastructure projects are not being developed or maintained simply because these were projects initiated during my tenure.”

“One of the marriage halls has been left open for cattle to roam in. Chanapora Hospital lacks adequate infrastructure, while the Budshah Nagar dispensary is in a miserable condition. Many areas in this constituency do not have a proper water supply, and people are struggling badly due to the lack of drinking water,” he added.

Speaking on the occasion, the party’s Senior Vice President, Ghulam Hassan Mir, said that people voted enthusiastically in the 2024 elections, believing that an elected government would help bridge the gap between the common people and the administration. However, two years down the line, they have realised that this government appears least concerned about addressing public issues and grievances.

He said, “Nobody seems to be there to listen to the common people’s miseries or address their concerns. A sense of hopelessness is now evident among the people. Unemployment continues to persist, while the ruling party has failed to fulfil several of its promises, including providing free electricity, gas cylinders, and other relief measures.”

Blaming people for repeatedly falling for the NC’s deceptive slogans and false promises, Mir remarked that a Muslim is not supposed to be bitten twice by the same creature.

“Why don’t you hold this government accountable for its failure to fulfil the promises the ruling party made while seeking votes during the election campaign? Where are the 200 units of free electricity, free Gas cylinders, and additional ration quota that the party had promised to provide to the people?” Mir asked.

He further said, “And, what about NC’s commitment to ensure restoration of Articles 370 and 35A and the restoration J&K’s statehood? Does this government have the constitutional authority to restore these provisions on its own in the first place? If not, why were such promises made to the people during the election campaign?”

On this occasion, party’s Vice President Mohammad Syed Akhoon accused the ruling National Conference of misleading people through its false poll promises. He said, “I was in the NC at that time, and I had warned the party leadership against making such deceitful promises to the people during the elections. I had cautioned them that making promises that could not realistically be fulfilled would ultimately undermine people’s trust. But instead of paying heed to my advice, the party chose to expel me.”

Addressing the convention, party General Secretary Rafi Ahmad Mir said that “Despite having a democratic system in place for more than seven decades, the people of Jammu and Kashmir continue to grapple with many of the same political and economic challenges they faced in the 1930s.”

He urged the people to “introspect and free themselves from the traditional political parties and their leaders, who have been misleading and deceiving them with false promises and emotional slogans merely to secure power for themselves.”

Speaking on the occasion, party’s Provincial President Mohammad Ashraf Mir accused the government of failing to address the pressing issues confronting the people. He said the elected government had failed on every front and that people were now realising that the ruling party had misled them with false promises during the election campaign.

The other prominent party leaders who were present on the occasion included party’s Chief Spokesperson & State Secretary Muntazir Mohiudin, Media Advisor Farooq Andrabi, President Women's Wing Dilshad Shaheen, District President Srinagar & Constituency In-charge Central Shaltang Zaffar Habib, Provincial Secretary Kashmir Mohammad Ashraf Dar, Provincial Secretary Kashmir Shiraza Malik, Provincial Orgainser Bilal Ahmad Bhat, Provincial Joint Secretary Kashmir Sajad Ahmad Dar, Orgainser Central Kashmir Mohammad Shafi Mir, Provincial Youth President Kashmir & Constituency In-charge Habba Kadal Jibran Dar, District Vice President Srinagar Mohammad Younis, District Vice President Srinagar Robin Singh, Assistant Vice President Srinagar Showkat Ahmad, Assistant Vice President Srinagar Imtiyaz Ahmad Sheikh, Coordinator District Sheikh Nissar, Joint Secretary District Srinagar Abdul Qayoom Mir, Publicity Secretary District Srinagar Abdul Rashid Alie, Secretary District Srinagar Shoaib Dar, Ward President Natipora Arjumand Makhdoomi, Ward President Bag-e-Mehtab Nazir Beigh, Ward President Mehjoor Nagar Mukhatar Ahmad, Ward President Budshah Nagar Imran Ahmad Lone, Ward President Chanapora Bilal Ahmad Shah, Ward President Hyderpora Sheikh Muzafar, Ward President Baghat Mohd Shafi Wani, Ward President Rawalpora Nazir Ah, Senior Executive member Ward Chanapora Afroza Khan, Executive Member Chanapora Constituency Waseem Bashi, Senior Leader Aijaz Rather, Senior Leader Masrat jee, Senior Leader Saima Jee, and others.(KNS)