Traditional politicians trying to exploit people for electoral benefits: Altaf Bukhari

Srinagar, Mar 13: Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari has said that New Delhi too is responsible for encouraging dynasty politics in Jammu and Kashmir in the past; the political families, to attain power and remain in power, kept people busy with unachievable goals and emotional slogans here.
He was addressing a workers’ convention at Qamaria Ground in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal, wherein people and party cadre gave him a rousing reception on his arrival at the venue.
According to a press release issued here, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari blamed conventional mainstream political parties for creating a mess in Jammu and Kashmir over the years, by setting unachievable goals for the people. He said, “Over the past more than 70 years, the traditional political parties belonging to certain families have been playing with the emotions of the common people to maintain a hold on power here. The power-hungry politicians also kept changing their narratives with the passage of time. First, they befooled people on the name of the so-called plebiscite front for more than two decades, and later, buried the same ‘movement’ for the sake of power in 1975. Then, they vowed that they will get things like autonomy and self-rule for Jammu and Kashmir. Later, they started harping that they are protectors of things like Article 370 and 35A. Now the same politicians are trying to exploit people and gain electoral benefits by saying that they will get the abrogated Article 370 back.”
He added, “These ruthless politicians never meant what they said. They only wanted to get a hold on power and create riches for their families. And, even now, their only goal is to attain power.”
“Why did they bury the so-called plebiscite movement, if they were sincere about it; why did they not try to get promised ‘autonomy’ for J&K even after having a two-thirds majority in the Assembly in the 1996 elections; why did they not raise their voice against August 5, 2019 occurrences even after holding all the three parliament seats from the Valley; and why didn’t they do anything to get abrogated Article 370 and 35A back even after creating a so-called alliance —PAGD — three years ago?” He asked.
Reiterating Apni Party’s narrative, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said, “Unlike traditional politicians, we are not hypocrites. We always speak our hearts out whether in Srinagar, in Jammu, or in Delhi. We don’t change or modify our narrative in changing scenarios.”
“Apni Party believes the Jammu and Kashmir is destined to remain with India as the leader of that time had decided it in 1947. We are not Indian because we have Indian Army here. We are Indian because we have chosen to be,” he added.