Political parties opposing Aug 5 decision should come clean on their intentions: Altaf Bukhari

Srinagar, Nov 2: Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Tuesday questioned the ‘‘intentions of political voices who oppose August 5th decisions’’ while stating his party’s efforts he said ‘‘ensured protection of rights on land and jobs for residents of Jammu and Kashmir”.

Bukhari said the ‘‘rants of political parties of J&K vis-à-vis de-operationalization of Article 370 and 35-A seem to be superfluous as they have failed to acknowledge the guarantees on rights of the people of J&K accorded by the government of India following Apni Party’s rigorous pursuit in this direction”.

Bukhari was addressing a party convention at Tad-Karnah in Kupwara district where he emphasized on the need for economic prosperity of the sub region “that has been ignored by the traditional political parties during their decades of rule in Jammu and Kashmir”.

Opposition to the August 5th decision is understandable but have these political parties ever acknowledged the achievements of Apni Party by virtue of which the rights of people of J&K on their land and jobs have been ensured. Does it mean that these political parties are averse to such constitutional guarantees and their opposition to Abrogation of Article 370 is a political compulsion for them,” Bukhari said.

He said that people of J&K are “politically mature and can differentiate between the political rhetoric and actual performance on the ground”. “It seems that these traditional political parties are unhappy and disgruntled over the people-centric efforts taken by our Party within such a short span of time. It has apparently exposed their hollow verbose where deliverance on ground is evidently imperceptible,” he added.

Bukhari also questioned “lack of essential developmental growth in north Kashmir especially in district Kupwara where people have always yearned for better road connectivity, interminable supplies of essential commodities and ample employment opportunities”.

Bukhari said the “political philosophy of Apni Party is primarily based on the welfare of the people and an equitable development of all the regions of Jammu and Kashmir”.

“Since the inception of our party, its people-centric and rational approach with regards to the resolution of public woes has always remained consistent devoid of any veiled motives. North Kashmir along with this remote sub-region requires an urgent developmental reform which can effectively keep it abreast with the rest of the region. Unfortunately, the people here have been promised much but on ground the deliverance is next to zero,” Bukhari remarked.

The Apni Party President reiterated his commitment for the construction of the highly anticipated Sadhna tunnel that can effectively address the prevailing economic regression in this sub-region.

“I have made a promise with the people of Karnah that this matter will be once again raised with the Central leadership and our Party shall rigorously pursue its implementation as until now a DPR has been already submitted. This tunnel connectivity will once and for all end the economic stagnation as more prospective business opportunities will find its way to this beautiful and gifted sub-region,” he remarked.

He also said that a five times hike in existing old-age pensions along with the enhancement of Asha worker’s honorarium will be implemented if Apni Party comes to power.

“It will definitely prove beneficial for the people who form an important part of our society. Our party will also provide four free gas refills to the beneficiaries of Ujjwala Scheme besides providing 500 and 300 units to Jammu and Kashmir subject to a bi-annual rotation. We shall never follow the suit of those who promised the moon to our people but eventually deceived them at numerous instances to which history is witness. We believe in Politics of Truth and Sincerity in action which remain the sole mantra for our grassroots level progress,” he said.

Besides Bukhari, Party’s Senior Vice President Ghulam Hassan Mir, Chief Spokesperson and Mentor Kupwara-Baramulla Districts Javid Hassan Baig, Provincial President Mohammad Ashraf Mir, State Secretary ST Wing Khalid Badhana, Provincial Secretary Javid Mirchal, District President Kupwara Raja Manzoor, District Secretary Kupwara Bilal Arif Lone, DDC Member Advocate Najma Hameed, BDC Nushada Jabeen, Haji Tasleem Mir and Mudasir Paswal also addressed the convention.  GK