NC’s proposed Jantar Mantar protest a ‘political drama’: Altaf Bukhari

Srinagar, July 16: Apni Party President Altaf Bukhari on Thursday described the ruling NC’s proposed sit-in protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar as “a political drama aimed at misleading the public.”
He said that “Had the National Conference (NC) been serious about the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, it would have demanded it over the past six years, especially at the time of government formation in 2024. They were supposed to raise this issue immediately they got a huge public mandate in the elections. But they kept mum at that time. They are raising the issue now only because they want to strengthen their own government. They are least bothered about the people’s rights or issues like statehood. All they want is power and authority for themselves.”
He said further said that “a meaningful dialogue and a sustained engagement with the Central government are essential to ensure the restoration of statehood and the resolution of other important issues.”
He said that, as far as the Apni Party’s stand on statehood is concerned, the party firmly believes that the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood is a matter of honour and dignity for its people. “In fact, the Apni Party was formed to strive for the restoration of statehood and other important public issues. However, we believe in achieving our goals through democratic and political means, not through confrontation,” he said.
Bukhari made these remarks while addressing a workers’ meeting at Dak Bungalow in Poonch. This event was organised by the party’s Senior Vice President of Jammu Province Shah Moammadd Tantray.
Speaking on the occasion, Altaf Bukhari reiterated his idea of a meaningful duologue with the centre essential to ensure all the important issues are addressed.
He said, “Protests and confrontation is not the way forward. Only a dialogue can bring our rights including statehood back. We cannot afford any confrontation, we need to convince the centre through political means—which is holding talks.”
Bukhari said that during his ongoing tour of the Pir Panjal region, he and his colleagues are getting firsthand information about the problems and grievances faced by the people. He expressed serious concern over the government’s failure to address the major issues affecting the people of Poonch and Rajouri.
He also demanded formation of a special police battalion by recruiting local youth. “He said, “Those living in border areas like Poonch, Rajouri, Uri, Karnah, Samba, and others are facing miserable hardships. It is the government’s responsibility to remain available and extend a helping hand to the residents of these remote areas. In this regard, the government should also establish a special police battalion by recruiting local youth. This would enable them to serve and protect their communities while also earning a stable livelihood.”
He also demanded that construction of tunnel across Pir Panchal region (at Haji Pir) for connectivity between areas of Uri and Poonch. He said this initiative will ensure all weather connectivity (22-23 km road) between two regions and help restoration of the past glory of both the areas.
Altaf Bukhari said that the ruling party is trying to befool people through emotional slogans. He said, “These days NC is talking about the restoration of statehood. Once, they were talking about the so-called ‘Raishumari’ (plebiscite). Later, they started demanding autonomy. In the recent past, they sought votes by promising to restore Articles 370 and 35A. Now, they no longer talk about those issues. Wait for some time, and they will stop talking about statehood as well.” “Giving votes to NC in 2024 assembly elections was a biggest mistake by the people,” he added.
He also blamed the traditional political parties for the hardships and suffering faced by the people of Jammu and Kashmir over the past several decades.
He said, “He said that the FIRs under which thousands of young people were imprisoned were registered during the rule of these traditional political parties. New Delhi did not come here to lodge these FIRs. Those who remained in power since 1990 are responsible for sending thousands of people to jail.”
He also criticised the government for failing to hold Panchayat and Urban Local Body (ULB) elections in Jammu and Kashmir, alleging that it was doing so to ensure that power and authority remained concentrated in its own hands.
He said, “They do not want the decentralisation of power. Instead, they want to keep all authority and power in their own hands. By not holding these elections, they are depriving the people of their democratic right to choose their representatives at the grassroots level. If these elections are held, around 17,000 representatives will be elected, strengthening democracy at the grassroots and empowering the people.”
Addressing the gathering, the party’s Senior Vice President, Ghulam Hassan Mir, emphasised the need to reconnect Poonch with Uri and Poonch-Tangmarg by reconstructing the historic routes.
He said that “before partition, Poonch held great historical importance in Jammu and Kashmir. However, after Partition, the region lost much of its historic glory.”
“More than 75 years have passed, but no government has taken serious steps to restore Poonch’s lost importance,” he said.
He added that the Apni Party wants the reconstruction of the historic Poonch–Uri and Poonch–Tangmarg roads to begin at the earliest. “If required, the necessary tunnels should also be constructed. This initiative will not only reconnect the people of these regions but will also help restore the historic importance and past glory of both Poonch and Uri,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, party’s provincial president Jammu Manjit Singh highlighted how Apni Party played a critical role in ensuring that people of Jammu and Kashmir retain their exclusive rights over the land and jobs here after the abrogation of Article 370 and 35 A.
He said that after the occurrences of August 5, 2019, the people of Jammu and Kashmir had also lost their exclusive rights over land and government jobs. “It was the Apni Party leadership, led by Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, that went to New Delhi and persuaded the government to ensure that these rights were protected for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. This was one of the Apni Party’s biggest contributions soon after its formation in March 2020,” he said. (KNS)