NC, PDP always bargain with New Delhi for attaining power: Altaf Bukhari

Srinagar, Nov 15: Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, on Wednesday, said that Apni Party will always stand by the oppressed and speak for everyone who is subjected to suffering in Jammu and Kashmir.
He was addressing a public rally in the Ijara area of north Kashmir’s Uri, today. The party workers and residents gathered at the rally venue to extend a warm welcome to the party president, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, and his accompanying leaders.
Before the rally, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari held a vibrant roadshow in the Khachardari Zenapora, Naganandi, and Ijara areas of the constituency. The enthused residents and party functionaries lined up along the way to greet their leader.
Addressing the rally Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said that he and his party will always stand by and speak for those who are subjected to surfing in Jammu and Kashmir. He said, “The Apni Party is dedicated to supporting those who are oppressed or needlessly subjected to miseries and hardships.”
He said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are facing tough times and blamed the traditional political parties and their leaders for the prevailing situation.
He said, “We are enduring hardship solely because the parties and leaders whom we had entrusted with our mandate over the years betrayed our trust for their own political gains. These parties never engaged in negotiations with New Delhi for the benefit of the people of Jammu and Kashmir; instead, their aspirations were always centred on seizing power for themselves.”
Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari explained it further, saying, “The traditional political parties, especially the two family-based parties, always bargain with New Delhi for attaining power and remaining in power, and New Delhi always brought them to the power corridors. To begin with, New Delhi bestowed power to NC post-1947, without any genuine public mandate.”
He went on to say, “NC government was ousted from power by the majority of legislators in 1984 to pave the way for good governance and to get rid of the family rule here. The honorable high court later affirmed that the government was removed through democratic means. The change of the government at that time restored the dignity of the elected representatives and ushered in an era of development and abundance of employment opportunities in Jammu and Kashmir. However, just three years later, in 1987, New Delhi allowed the same party to seize power again, despite it rigging the elections here.”
“The consequences of the electoral rigging resulted in the tragic loss of two lakh lives in Jammu and Kashmir in the subsequent years. Once again, in 1996, the NC opted for power without actively pursuing negotiations with New Delhi for the betterment of Jammu and Kashmir’s interests,” he added.
Talking about the sufferings of the people in Uri, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said, “The residents of this area have endured years of cross-border shelling, yet when it comes to providing essential facilities, they have been left high and dry. Despite the presence of two major hydroelectric power projects in this region, the locals have not received any economic dividends from these projects. The lack of infrastructure is evident, even in the fields of health and education here.”
He pledged that Apni Party, if gets a mandate to serve the people, it will prioritize the economic well-being of the residents of Uri. He said, “I assure you that when we secure the mandate, we will undertake all necessary measures for the economic growth of Uri. We are committed to fostering infrastructural development in Uri to create business and job opportunities for the younger generation.”
On this occasion, addressing the rally, the party’s Vice President Usman Majid said that traditional political parties have consistently misled the people of Jammu and Kashmir through emotional sloganeering. He stated, “The traditional political parties have deceived the people with false promises and emotional slogans. They are preparing to come again and entice people through their deceptive promises and emotional sloganeering. However, these parties now stand exposed before the people, and the people have rejected them.”
Addressing the gathering, the party’s Chief Spokesperson, Javid Hassan Baig emphasized the need to create durable and reliable business infrastructure in Uri. He said, “Given the geographical location of Uri, we require reliable employment opportunities here so that issues like chronic unemployment and infrastructure deficits can be addressed. Apni Party is exceptional in terms of having a clear-cut vision and the will to change the scenario, ensuring durable prosperity and development in this region. Once Apni Party is mandated to serve the people, we will create eco-friendly industrial and tourism infrastructure here to ensure reliable employment opportunities.”
Besides Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, Usman Majid, and Javed Baig, the prominent party leaders who were present on the occasion included Constituency incharge Uri Choudhary Mushtaq Ahmad, Senior Leader Najeeb Naqvi, Provincial President ST Wing and Chairman BDC Rafiq Balote, Constituency Coordinator, Farooq Ahmad Tantray, Senior Leader Maqsood Sheikh, Senior Leader Mehmoof Bukhari, Youth President Sajad Sheikh, Ishfaq Lone, Fayaz Pandit, Ishtiaq Ahmad, Mohammad Nazir Chechi, Javid Pandit, Ghulam Qadir, and others.