SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party president, Altaf Bukhari has demanded restoration of Statehood and special status to Jammu and Kashmir. While addressing a press conference here, Bukhari said that his party is desirous of restoration of special status of Jammu and Kashmir early restoration of its statehood.
“We are also desirous of Restoration of Special Status to J&K and we expect a favorable decision by the Supreme Court in this regard. Even if the Apex Court’s verdict disregards peoples’ aspirations, Apni Party will pursue the same with the leadership of the country,” he stated. 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.
“There is no room for shifting stands in Apni Party while as we see that PAGD on one hand is speaking about the No Compromise’ on Articles-370 and 35A but at the same time it becomes a signatory to Opposition memorandums that doesn’t even mention about their restoration. PAGD is trying to keep the people away from development-based politics through its hollow and emotional slogans. It is only because its constituents don’t want to be held accountable for their dismal failures and historical blunders committed from time to time for the sake of power,” he alleged.
Bukhari said that it seems that the major constituents of PAGD are unable to comprehend the fast changing geo-political dynamics in the region and want people of J&K to perpetually get consumed to the nefarious designs of the forces inimical to peace. Bukhari said that Apni Party has not only safeguarded the socio-economic and legal rights of the people but also ensured measures by the Bovernment of India to create an enabling and peaceful atmosphere in Jammu and Kashmir. “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.
Earlier in the meeting of the Apni Party its leaders demanded a thorough security review of political activists so that they can continue with a hassle-free political process across Jammu and Kashmir. 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.
