Achieving statehood for J&K needs persistent engagement with Centre: Altaf Bukhari

Srinagar, Feb 11: Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari has said, “One must maintain close ties with New Delhi to ensure that Jammu and Kashmir’s problems are resolved.” He also stated that regaining statehood for J&K could be a time-consuming process and that achieving this goal requires persistent engagement with the central government.
He made these remarks during a detailed interview with a news gathering agency.
Apni Party president criticized those who claim that statehood will be restored automatically just because the Home Minister has made a commitment in this regard on the floor of Parliament.
He said, “How does it matter what was said in Parliament? Don’t you remember that in 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru, as Prime Minister, made a commitment about self-determination on the floor of Parliament, stating that the right of self-determination would be granted to the people of Jammu and Kashmir? Did we get it? Has anybody given us this right, even after a Prime Minister made a commitment about it? Similarly, it doesn’t matter what has been committed regarding statehood. We have to demand it from New Delhi by reaching out and convincing the Centre that it is in the nation’s best interest. By the way, statehood is no longer a matter of restoration; rather, it has to be its re-creation now.”
When asked about Apni Party’s close ties with the BJP government at the Centre, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said, “There is nothing wrong with having close ties with the Centre. I have never denied it, nor am I embarrassed about being close to the Centre, where the BJP is in power. One has to maintain close relations with New Delhi if the issues are to be resolved. The solution to J&K’s issues will come from New Delhi, which is why J&K’s ruling party, after receiving a huge public mandate, is now making every effort to strengthen its ties with the Centre. It’s simple—our problems will be solved by the Centre.”
On the deteriorating law and order situation in Jammu and Kashmir, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said, “I think the situation is better if we compare it with the past. However, the recent incidents of killings suggest that the turmoil has not ended yet. We saw unfortunate incidents occurring in recent days. An ex-Army man was killed in Kulgam, a truck driver was killed in Sopore, and a man was forced to commit suicide in Kathua’s Billawar. These are heartbreaking incidents, and such incidents have the potential to have an adverse impact on peace in the region.”
He added, “There was no need to target the truck driver in Baramulla. When an ex-serviceman was killed in Kulgam, it was a clear incident of terrorism—terrorists killed him. But what do we call those who killed the truck driver? Security forces were involved in the killing of the driver and in the Kathua incident. The fact is that terrorism has to be eliminated, and the security forces must be kept under control to ensure complete peace and stability in J&K.”
Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari blamed the BJP for dividing people in the name of religion during the assembly elections.
He said, “After losing the elections, our internal committee examined the reasons for our defeat, and we found that it was the BJP that turned these elections into a Hindu vs. Muslim contest. We had never had elections based on religion here in the past, but the BJP consolidated the Hindu vote in Jammu on a communal basis. Seeing this, the Muslim voters in the Valley also united and chose only one party to vote for so they could confront the BJP. This became the main reason for Apni Party’s defeat. Anyway, losing or winning is part of the democratic process.”
He further said, “Another factor in our defeat was that Apni Party was targeted by a defamation campaign launched by our rivals. We were falsely accused of being a “B team” or a proxy of the BJP. This campaign started soon after our party was established in 2020. These allegations were part of the negative politics practiced by our opponents. I feel sorry that we lost, but we have accepted the defeat as Allah’s will.”
“Some of our leaders also left us due to these false allegations against Apni Party. Although they could not win even after leaving the party, but their departure still damaged the party,” he added.
Responding a question about jailed MP engineer Rashid, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said, “I think this is high time to release the elected MP. His case may continue, but he should be released. After all, he was elected by five lakh people. The people’s verdict must be respected. In fact, I would say that all detainees should be released from jail. How long will you keep them behind bars?”
When asked how he sees the recent political activities of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said, “I appreciate Mirwaiz Sahib for becoming active. I know people will ridicule him, but I would tell him, ‘Don’t lose heart. Keep going. You are on the right path, and God will help you.”
Regarding the cancelled gazetted holidays on the occasion of Martyrs’ Day on July 13 and Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah’s birth anniversary on December 5, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said that these holidays must be reinstated.
He said, “If there is a gazetted holiday for the Maharaja’s birth anniversary, there should also be a holiday for Sheikh Sahib’s birth anniversary. As far as July 13 is concerned, we are emotionally attached to it. This holiday should also be reinstated.”