Srinagar, Nov 20: Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari Sunday reiterated his party’s demand for the restoration of J&K’s statehood and the immediate holding of assembly elections.
Bukhari was addressing a party convention at south Kashmir’s Devsar Kulgam, where the party workers and people, as per party statement, gave him a rousing reception.
The prominent leaders who were present on this occasion included Party's Senior Vice President Ghulam Hassan Mir, General Secretary Rafi Ahmad Mir, Chief Coordinator Abdul Majeed Padder, and Provincial President Mohammad Ashraf Mir.
As per the statement, Altaf Bukhari while addressing the gathering said, “Apni Party is committed to the people that it will not leave any stone unturned to ensure J&K’s statehood is restored back. Also, I assure you that we will do everything to protect J&K’s Muslim-Majority character.”
He also demanded an immediate holding of assembly elections here so that people can elect their own representatives to run the affairs of Jammu and Kashmir.
He said, “We know it as a matter of fact that the present administration in J&K does not consider public opinions on any administrative issue. Had this not been the case, we would have not seen the abrupt hike in the electricity tariff and frequent power breakdowns even in these harsh winter days.
“Providing sufficient power supply on reasonable tariffs should have been the government's priority, especially during the winter.”
Demanding the assembly polls without any further delay, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said, “As per the essence of democracy, people have the right to elect their own representatives to run the administrative affairs, and they should not be deprived of this constitutional right for a long time.”
He assured people that the Apni Party will continue its struggle to ensure peace, prosperity and development of Jammu and Kashmir, and economic and political empowerment of its people.
He said, “After the August 5, 2019 Apni Party took initiative to meet the Prime Minister and Home Minister in New Delhi to get an assurance that J&K people will have the sole ownership rights on the agricultural land and jobs here.”
He added, “Similarly, we will ensure the peace, prosperity and development of this land, and the economic and political empowerment of its people. We will keep striving for the rights of the people, and the protection to J&K’s Muslim-majority character. I assure you that we are here to protect the rights of the J&K people.”
He urged people not to trust the traditional political parties and their leaders if they claim that they will get Article-370 and 35-A back.
He said, “Local political parties and their leaders have no authority to get these abrogated Articles back. Only the Supreme Court has the power to grant us these constitutional Articles restored. We will hire the best lawyers to fight a legal battle for getting 370 and 35-A back. Thus, if any political leader comes to tell you that he or she will bring these laws back, they will be simply lying to you for their electoral gains.”
He assured people that the Apni Party will never mislead them with emotional slogans and fake promises. He said, “We are not dishonest, nor do we lie to our people. We are God-fearing people and we never forget the fact that this world is not immortal. Sooner or later, we all have to die and face the Almighty in the hereafter. Therefore, we do not believe in deceptive politics and lies. We always tell the truth to the people, even if it gives us political disadvantages.”