GoI must explain why Assembly Elections not being held in J&K: Altaf Bukhari

Seeks majority to Apni Party in Assembly Elections, will restore Old Pension Scheme

Says Poonch faces underdevelopment, poor infrastructure

Prominent youth leader Raiz Atish among dozens join Apni Party in Mandi

POONCH, April 30, 2023:- Apni Party President Syed Mohammed Altaf Bukhari on Sunday asked the Election Commission of India and Govt of India to explain why the Assembly Elections are not being held in Jammu and Kashmir.

“The elections are being delayed without justification in J&K. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the Election Commission of India and Govt of India to explain as to why the Assembly Elections have been delayed,” said Altaf Bukhari while addressing a public rally at Mandi in Poonch District.

Bukhari said that “How can a country object to the formation of Govt in J&K? This decision has to be taken by the Election Commission of India or Govt of India as there is no role of any of the neighbouring countries.”

Therefore, he said that the Govt of India must explain why the elections are not being held in J&K.

“Who will conduct elections in J&K? As far as we know, the elections are conducted by ECI / Govt of India and no other power on this earth has any right to interfere in J&K,” he asked.

Referring to the terror attack in Poonch, he said that “We are concerned over the terror attack in which our five soldiers were martyred. The innocent people should not be harassed. However, those people who provided any kind of support to the terrorists should be handled as per the law.”

Countering those questioning the nationalism of the people, he said that “No one is more nationalist than the border residents from Kathua to Uri who have braved all odd situations and lived back in their respective border villages.”

Meanwhile, he criticized the traditional political parties for misleading the people of Jammu and Kashmir with their divisive agenda on the name of autonomy, self-rule and other things.

“They created a wedge among the people with their false narrative and promises which could not be fulfilled. However, when they go to Delhi they speak differently. Their double faces have been exposed before the public,” he said and questioned that these politicians blame others but they themselves go to Delhi to protect themselves.

However, Apni Party leaders go to Delhi to protect the interest of the people i.e., land, jobs and other things so that outsiders may not grab resources or jobs, he added.

He said that his party took risks and stood up when no other politician was ready to speak for the people of J&K who were troubled with the abrogation of special status and downgrading of J&K State into UT.

Citing an example, he said that one leader from J&K had gone to Delhi in 1947 and returned as Administrator and for 72 years, the political parties continued to fool people on different agenda.

“We promise what can be achieved. Our agenda is peace, prosperity and equitable development in J&K. The divisive agenda adopted by traditional political parties was responsible for unaccounted deaths and destruction for the last 72 years. The people faced the brunt of divisive agenda, and these politicians enjoyed their luxury on the other hand,” he said.

The people were divided on the name of region, religion, Pahari, Gujjar, Kashmiri but the time has come when everyone should come forward and get united for the peace and prosperity of J&K.

He also criticized BJP who got 25 assembly seats in the last assembly elections from Jammu and joined hands with PDP within 24 hours after the declaration of the results.

He said that both PDP and BJP were hands in glove before polls as they campaigned against each other but formed Govt immediately after poll results.

He appealed to the people to give a majority to the Apni Party in the assembly elections to form a Govt.

He also referred to the under development in Poonch, poor infrastructure, and pending projects like tunnels, and roads which are yet to be completed. He assured that they will ensure the pending works can be completed if they form the Govt.

He also praised the people of J&K for maintaining a peaceful atmosphere after August 5, 2019.

“The credit must be given for peace to the people as well as the security forces. The situation was different and people also maintained calm. Earlier, the NC, PDP, and other political parties were responsible for instigating people which resulted in the loss of life in Kashmir for the last 72 years. However, this time, the situation has become peaceful with no incident like stone pelting,” he added.

Meanwhile, he again assured the people that if the Apni Party forms the next Govt in J&K, they will restore the Old Pension Scheme, restore darbar move practice, and non-locals shall not be allowed to get contracts or authority to extract natural resources.

“The employment, land and natural resources are the property of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Similarly, the babus who are harassing people on the name of eviction drives will have to face action when an elected Govt would be in place,” he said.

On this occasion, dozens of prominent people led by prominent youth leader, social activist and ex-Aquaf Administrator Raiz Atish joined Apni Party in presence of Altaf Bukhari sahib. While welcoming them into the party fold, Altaf Bukhari hoped that their joining would strengthen the party in Poonch district. Prominent among those who joined Apni Party include Choudhary Mohammed Shafi Mello, Choudhary Isthakar, Choudhary Khalik Anjum, Gurinderpal Singh, Haji Nazir Ahmed Bhatti, and others.

Besides, Apni Party Senior Vice President, Ghulam Hassan Mir said that “A political thinking has emerged after August 5, 2019 which prefers peace, brotherhood, and development. For the last seven decades, a divisive agenda of division and rule was adopted by the traditional political parties which widened the gap between the people of two regions, Jammu and Kashmir.”

Mir said that “The people were emotionally exploited and it brought misery for common masses. The youth were the most sufferers. However, we decided to tell the truth to the people and people have also accepted the policy and agenda of the Apni Party as we want to give a bright future to our youth.”

Similarly, Apni Party Provincial President, Jammu, S. Manjit Singh said that J&K was a historic state but it was downgraded and divided into two Union Territories i.e., J&K and Ladakh after snatching its special status.

“Thereafter, the non-locals were permitted to apply for jobs in Jammu and Kashmir. That situation was difficult especially when the traditional political parties leaders kept silent and no one was ready to speak for the public. Even some leaders got themselves house arrested instead of coming out for the people who they represented once,” he said.

He said that it was Altaf Bukhari who did not compromise but preferred to represent the people at the difficult time when the people were in trouble and the J&K was under complete lockdown.

“Bukhari sahib went to Delhi and ensured protection to the jobs and lands for the residents of Jammu and Kashmir. Bukhari sahib did not speak differently in J&K and Delhi,” he said.

He said that “If Govt is formed by Apni Party, we will enhance the old age pension scheme up to Rs 5000, four cooking gas cylinders will be provided per year to a poor family under Ujjawala Scheme, we also will enhance the marriage assistance up to Rs 1 lakhs and that will be cleared within one month.”

Meanwhile, District President, Poonch, Ex-MLA Shah Mohammed Tantary also spoke on the occasion and highlighted various issues of the people in Poonch District.

Tantray said that “Altaf Bukhari sahib has the ability to bring the people of two regions together and work in a coordinated manner with the Central Govt that would be beneficial for J&K with regard to economic growth, infrastructural development, employment, protection to the rights of the people and other things.”

He said that “There must be a better understanding between J&K and Central Govt for the welfare of the erstwhile state and the people of all the regions. The people are fed up with non-representation in the Govt. They want elections to be held as early as possible so that their issues can be addressed.” Later, he presented a vote of thanks.

Prominent among those who were present on the occasion include Bashir Ahmed Khaki, Capt Balraj Dutta, Raqeeq Ahmed Khan, Surjan Singh, Bilal Mukhdoomi, Haji Akram, Ghulam Nabi Naik, Ajaz Tantray, Abdul Jabar Tantray, Choudhary BAshir Kamran, Choudhary Mohammed Saffeer, Saifuddin Zargar, Haji Akbar Daya, Abdul Jaben Dar, Dr Bashir Sahab Malik, Basharat Sheikh, Azim Malik Sahab, Mumtaz Raja, Ali Choudhary, and others.