Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari reiterated his steadfast belief in Jammu and Kashmir’s integral relationship with India, stating, “The undeniable reality is that Jammu and Kashmir was destined to be an integral part of India in 1947, and it will continue to be so.”
However, Bukhari criticized the central government’s actions, particularly the unilateral abrogation of Article 370 and 35A on August 5, 2019, stating, “The centre has repeatedly hurt the sentiments of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Those in power over the past seven decades should have taken measures to ensure the permanence of these significant constitutional provisions.”
Bukhari made these remarks today while addressing a public rally at Kunji Ular in the Wachi ..Zaina Pora constituency in South Kashmir’s Shopian district.
The residents and party cadre warmly welcomed him and other leaders upon their arrival at the rally venue.
According to a party statement, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari while addressing the rally urged people to stop being scapegoats of the emotional sloganeering employed by the traditional political parties and their leaders.
He said, “The emotional slogans and misleading narratives by the traditional political parties have yielded nothing for you, except for leading lakhs of our youth either into jails or graveyards. It is your responsibility to prevent these ruthless politicians from further political exploitation. You must understand that undeniable reality that Jammu and Kashmir was destined to be part of India in 1947, and it will always remain so.”
He said, “We have received numerous wounds from the centre, but still, I strongly believe that the solace for our emotional grievances and solutions to our problems will come from New Delhi itself.”
He committed that the Apni Party, upon receiving the public mandate, will ensure that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are provided with all the rights guaranteed to citizens by the constitution of the country.
He said, “I assure you that the Apni Party will never disappoint you. We will ensure that the constitutionally guaranteed rights are restored to the people, and we will protect these rights to the fullest extent of our strength.”
Taking a dig at the traditional political parties, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said, “The centre would not have succeeded in harming the interests of the people of Jammu and Kashmir if local politicians had not supported them in causing such damage. It was the responsibility of the leaders, in whom the people placed their trust, to safeguard our interests.”
“Why did these leaders not attempt to make Article 370 and 35A permanent even after they held power for years and decades in Jammu and Kashmir?” he asked. “Rather than safeguarding the interests of the people of Jammu Kashmir, these leaders kept them occupied with false promises and misleading narratives to serve their personal and political interests,” he added.
Reiterating his demand in support of Jamaat-e-Islami J&K, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said, “I advocate for Jamaat-e-Islami to be permitted to fulfil its religious duties toward society because I firmly believe that our young generation requires the guidance of religious leaders to eradicate social evils. I believe that only religious leaders and religious organisations can effectively help us in combating menaces such as drug abuse in our society.”
“The ongoing drug menace is damaging the entire society and ruining the families of the victims who have fallen into the trap of drug abuse,” he added.
Talking about the issues of the Wachi constituency and the rest of the areas in the Shopian district, Apni Party President said, “I am aware of the problems and challenges that you all are facing here, and I assure you that once we receive the public mandate, we will promptly begin addressing these issues.”
He promised that he would take up the issue of Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loan defaulters with the concerned authorise to secure relief for them. He also urged the government to speed up the completion of the Mughal Road tunnel to improve Shopian’s connectivity, making it easier to transport fruits to outside markets.
He assured that once his party comes into power, they will create several tourist sites and improve infrastructure in this beautiful district.
On this occasion, the party’s State Vice President Zaffar Iqbal Manhas reminded people how they inflicted sufferings on themselves by blindly trusting the traditional leaders over the years. He urged people to introspect so that they would no longer fall prey to the fake slogans of these traditional parties and their leaders.
He said, “Seventy years ago, in 1947, a leader imposed his will on you. You trusted and supported him blindly to the extent that you chanted self-insulting slogans like ‘Ala karay ga, wangan karay ga, bab karay ga’ (whatever good or bad would be done; only Sheikh Abdullah is entitled to do it),”
“And, when he had problems with New Delhi he again misused and misled you on the name of ‘Azadi’ and ‘Plebiscite’ for 22 years, and then again, for his political gains he himself ridiculed these slogans by declaring his 22 yearlong campaign as ‘ Siyasi Awaragardi’ (Political Waywardness).
Manhas went on to say, “You never questioned the leaders to whom you gave your mandate over the past seven decades. You even allowed them to establish their political dynasties here. These leaders created their family rule with the support of your votes. At least now, after enduring so much suffering, you must say enough is enough. You must introspect and stop falling prey to these traditional political parties and their leaders.”