*Seeks 35-yrs residency for domicile eligibility
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 29: Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari today reiterated his call for the Centre to initiate a dialogue with the people of Jammu and Kashmir, asserting that the restoration of statehood must be followed by this meaningful engagement, which is promised by Prime Minister and Home Minster.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO
He was addressing a press conference in Jammu after a party event in which a prominent political and social activist from Gool Reasi, Syed Zulfiqar Ayobe alias Baji Sahib, joined the Apni Party.
Bukhari expressed deep concern over the recent demolition of journalist Arfaz Daing’s house by the JDA. “The elected Government claims it has no knowledge of the demolition, and the LG administration says the same. Should we then ask the United Nations (UN) on whose instructions this demolition was carried out? People have given a strong mandate to the ruling party. It is now the party’s responsibility to clarify on this issue,”he added.
Bukhari, however, applauded the victim’s Hindu neighbourer, Kuldeep Sharma, a resident of Jammu’s Narwal, who offered a piece of land to Daing for rebuilding his house.
On the issue over Muslim students’ admission at Vaishno Devi Medical College, Apni Party president said, “Those who object to the admission of Muslim students at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) should understand that these admissions were made purely on the basis of merit through NEET.
“Admissions to any educational institution should always be based on merit, not on religious identity. The day we begin selecting students on the basis of their religion, our society will start to fall apart,” he added.
Lashing out at the elected government, Bukhari said, slogans and promises made in their manifesto were misleading and false. Over a year has passed, yet people have not received the promised 200 units of free electricity or 12 gas cylinders. The promise of 50,000 jobs is still unmet, and daily-wage workers’ issues remain unresolved. Reiterating his demand to extend the residency requirement for domicile from the current 15 years to 50 years – or at least 35 years – the Apni Party president said that if the Government fails to act within three months, the party will launch an agitation to ensure the residency period is increased for obtaining domicile.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
