Jammu Kashmir Apni Party (AP) president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Thursday called for immediate restoration of statehood to instill confidence among people.
Expressing deep concern over the growing uncertainty in the region, Bukhari said only a comprehensive political process can instill a sense of confidence among the people of Jammu Kashmir, he said.
“There is an urgent need for a political process in Jammu Kashmir aimed at creating conditions wherein the people have a say in all aspects of life, including civic, social, economic, and political activities, as well as participation in decision-making processes,” he remarked.
Bukhari said that Apni Party, since its inception on March 8, 2020, has put its unstinted efforts into breaking the political logjam and it will continue to do so till the dignity of the people of Jammu Kashmir was restored with honorable measures.
“We have always tried hard to take people of Jammu Kashmir out of the abyss of dejection, and voiced their pressing concerns before the central leadership. Though we succeeded in restoring rights of the people on their land and jobs; the restoration of Statehood remains imperative to alleviate the sense of political disempowerment among the people of Jammu Kashmir,” he said.
Bukhari asserted that the people of the UT are suffering immensely in absence of an elected government and there exists a huge disconnect between the common man and those at the helm of affairs in the LG-led administration.
“With every passing day, the gap between people and the administration is widening. The pressing issues of people go unheard and most of the time arbitrary laws are enacted which are against public interest. Such a scenario is extremely detrimental to the democratic ethos of our country which needs to be done away with,” he said.
He urged the central leadership to acknowledge the aspirations of the people and take prompt measures to resume a genuine political process in Jammu Kashmir.
He said that only an elected government can instill a sense of confidence among people by making the apparatus of governance accountable before the public.
“The people of Jammu and Kashmir have the same rights as the rest of the citizens in the country. Having a popular government is an inalienable right of the people which is enshrined in the constitution. The Central government must initiate the political process in Jammu Kashmir without any further delay so that a democratically elected government replaces the current bureaucratic setup,” Bukhari demanded.