Dynastic politics major hurdle in J&K’s progress: Altaf Bukhari

Srinagar, Feb 24: Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) president Altaf Bukhari on Tuesday asserted that the Jammu and Kashmir’s persistent problems cannot be solved until “family politics” makes way for common people and fosters a constructive partnership with the central government.
Bukhari launched a veiled tirade against the political dynasties that have held sway in the Valley for generations, holding them accountable for the lack of grassroots change.
“For the last 75 years, politics here has been the monopoly of a few families. In one house, the baton kept passing from father to son, and in another, it remained within the clan. As long as this politics of dynasties continues, the common man will never get a chance, and you will never see any change,” the Apni Party president said.
Bukhari said that the ground situation in the Union Territory has evolved, pointing to the recent electoral successes of former separatist-allied groups to stress his point that engagement with Delhi is now a universal reality.
“You saw what happened recently. The Jamaat, which contested and won, is now openly saying that we have to stay with Delhi. My point is proven: as long as you don’t engage with the government in Delhi, you can’t solve the problems of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
The Apni Party chief also accused certain factions of attempting to leapfrog his party in cosying up to the Centre, despite their historical anti-Delhi rhetoric.
“The other Jamaat—the one that has always wrapped itself in the garb of a freedom struggle, that has always interpreted its politics as a war of freedom—is now singing a different tune. They are saying that if anyone can fix things, it is Modi. It seems they want to run two steps ahead of us and jump into the lap of the BJP,” he alleged.
Clarifying his own party’s ideological stance, he said, “We have always said we want to be in contact with the Government of India. I don’t care which party is running it—whether it is the BJP, the Congress, or anyone else. We are not here to join any ‘Indian Jamaat’; we are here to solve the issues of our youth. Jammu and Kashmir is a special territory, and for its special problems, the Government of India has to be a partner.”
Notably, the Apni Party president, who recently held a series of meetings with political figures in Delhi, refrained from disclosing details of his discussions in the national capital. (KNS)