Fail to understand PAGD’s agenda: Altaf Bukhari

Srinagar, Aug 30: Former minister and Apni Party president, Syed Altaf Bukhari on Monday said that his party fails to understand the agenda of Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) and asked whether the conglomerate has forgotten its promises done with the people.
Addressing a presser here at party office, Bukhari said that the PAGD made high and tall claims when it came into existence, but the conglomerate recently participated in the meeting of nearly two dozen opposition parties, which later come up with the statement as well.
However, he said that the opposition parties didn’t even mention a single word vis-a-vis restoration of Article 370, indicating that the conglomerate has given up on its basic agenda.
“I assure people that whatever Apni Party has said, it is committed to that,” he said, while demanding early restoration of statehood and also an employment package for the youth in Jammu and Kashmir.
Referring to the remarks made by President Ram Nath Kovind during his recent visit to J&K wherein he said, democracy has within its capacity to reconcile all differences; Bukhari reiterated Apni party’s demand for restoration of Statehood and early elections in J&K.
He said that the grievances of the people are addressed by an elected and accountable government and cannot be substituted by any bureaucratic regime.
“Our demand assumes more significance in view of the remarks made by the Parliamentary Committee on Home Affairs which in its recent visit to J&K expressed satisfaction over the security situation saying that militancy is at an all-time low and there have been no instances of stone pelting in the Valley,” he observed.
Bukhari demanded that the process of delimitation should be expedited as it can catalyze the electoral process in J&K.
He also hoped that the Supreme Court would give its verdict on Article 370 in favour of the people of the Union Territory.
Bukhari also demanded swift action against corruption, and said that the government must start its process from the political class.
Earlier in the Core Group meeting, Apni Party leaders demanded a thorough security review of political activists so that they can continue with a hassle-free political process across Jammu and Kashmir.
“Security of political activists, irrespective of their party affiliations, needs to be reviewed. Besides, we would also like to appeal to other political parties to stop their two-hoot policy and join Apni Party’s pragmatic politics in order to prevent further loss of life in J&K,” Apni Party leadership observed.
They also raised serious concerns over the exponential increase in unemployment rates while seeking stern actions against those involved in corruption irrespective of their position and status.
“Regularization of casual laborers, daily wagers, ITI Skilled, need based, HDF, NYCs, Computer Operators and consolidated workers is a must. Similarly, infusing capital for the revival of PSUs, disbursing of salaries, pension to PSU employees, retirees, adjudication of land compensation cases and issues faced by the mining sector across J&K need to be resolved once for all,” they said. (KNO)