Rehan Qayoom Mir
Jammu, Oct 15: Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Tuesday said that the party will contest the upcoming Assembly by-elections from both Nagrota and Budgam constituencies.
Speaking to media persons after chairing a key meeting with provincial leaders at the party’s Jammu office in Gandhi Nagar, Bukhari said that the candidates’ names will be finalised and announced after the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) meeting in Srinagar.
“Our Jammu organisation has finalised the candidates. We will announce the names tomorrow. We are neither supporting anyone nor taking support from anyone,” Bukhari said, adding that the Apni Party will independently contest from both constituencies.
Taking a dig at the ruling National Conference (NC) government in Jammu and Kashmir and the BJP-led Central Government, Bukhari said both parties have failed to deliver on their promises.
“The people have lost faith as NC and BJP have failed to fulfil their commitments. There is no visible development, no electricity waiver, no social welfare schemes, no free 200 units of power, no release of jailed youth, and rising unemployment,” he said.
Bukhari also alleged that the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway closure for 17 days caused heavy losses to fruit growers in Kashmir, while BJP MLAs from Jammu “ignored the flood-affected people and failed to secure special relief packages for their voters.”
“The government has failed to implement its manifesto. Statehood is crucial; otherwise, why are there 29 states in India?” he said, reiterating the Apni Party’s demand for restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
Highlighting his party’s role after the abrogation of Article 370, Bukhari said the Apni Party ensured protection of jobs and land rights for locals by engaging directly with the Union Government — a step no other party took.
He urged people to reject both NC and BJP in the upcoming bye-polls and extend their support to the Apni Party candidates.
