J&K Assembly not mandated to restore Article 370: Altaf Bukhari

JKAP leaders during a party’s Foundation Day on Tuesday.
JKAP leaders during a party’s Foundation Day on Tuesday.

‘Make political parties accountable for promises

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Mar 8: The Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP), president Altaf Bukhari today said that J&K Assembly has not been mandated to restore Article 370 of the constitution, according special status to the Jammu and Kashmir.

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Speaking at 2nd Foundation Day function of the party at Church Lane in Srinagar today, party president, Altaf Bukhari gave a detailed threw light on the circumstances that led to the formation of Apni Party in March 2020. He also highlighted the prevailing political logjam saying that the Union Government must consider early elections as soon as possible in Jammu and Kashmir so that people have their elected government in place.
Apni Party leader asked Jammu and Kashmir people not to misconstrue assembly elections with an exercise that can revoke the decisions taken on August 5, 2019. “Don’t fall prey to the political maneuvering who will try to garner your support with such hollow slogans,” Bukhari observed, adding that the people of J&K must hold political parties accountable for their poll promises and the delivery on ground.
“The Legislative Assembly in UT of J&K is not even mandated to restore Statehood not to talk of restoration of Article 370 and 35-A. Popular government in J&K can represent your developmental aspirations and the people will have a complete say in the day-to-day governance,” he remarked, while recalling how some regional political parties had asked for votes in DDC elections for the sake of restoration of J&K’s lost special status.
He said that rather than mudslinging on each other, the traditional political parties of J&K should introspect how they have always ditched the people on different political pretexts and slogans. While recalling the political deceits of the traditional political parties that reasoned a perpetual socio-economic and political instability in the region; Bukhari said the unemployment rate in J&K has jumped to almost 22% during the rule of these parties leaving the educated youth high and dry.
Bukhari urged the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the emotional aspirations of the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh by taking urgent confidence based measures before the upcoming elections. He demanded for early restoration of Statehood and elected governments both in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. Taking into consideration the plight of the business community and the alarming rate of unemployment, he urged the Prime Minister for announce a special package for Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
He said that Apni Party is not against any political alliance including that of PAGD but it will always criticize its falsehood and hoax claims being made to befool the public in J&K. “we are against their lies and political deceit,” he added.
Meanwhile, similar function was held at party office Jammu under the leadership of party vice president, Ghulam Hassan Mir. Women wing president of the party Namrata Sharma, Provincial president Manjit Singh, party general secretary Vikram Malhotra and many other leaders were also present on the occasion and threw light on the circumstances which led to the creation of Apni Party and its achievements.