Apni Party committed to end regional differences: Bukhari

Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari addressing a mammoth public rally at Hiranagar on Sunday.
Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari addressing a mammoth public rally at Hiranagar on Sunday.

Excelsior Correspondent

KATHUA, July 31: Apni Party president, Syed Mohammed Altaf Bukhari today said his party is committed to end regional differences and will bring the two communities close to each other for the unity and prosperity of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir.
Bukhari was addressing a one day worker’s convention in Hiranagar near here, today. The convention was organized by district president, Kathua and Ex-MLA, Prem Lal.

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In his address, he said that the people of both the regions were betrayed and differences were created for one reason or the other to continue the politics of regional divide and to harm communal harmony among Hindus and Muslims by the traditional political parties.
“However, the Apni Party will not allow divisive politics. We will fight for the unity of both the regions so that the people of two communities can be brought together. The BJP and other traditional political parties have spoiled the tradition of brotherhood and regional tolerance. An atmosphere of mistrust has been created by these political parties for their political gains and we will not allow their agenda anymore,” he said.
He said that the people are fed-up with the unprecedented unemployment, sense of insecurity for jobs and land with the inflow of people from outside the Jammu and Kashmir following the revocation of Art 370 and Art 35A.
“We don’t have ample job prospects in private sectors and the majority of youth look for Government jobs in Jammu and Kashmir. The jobs were protected under the special status which has been removed by the BJP to fulfill its political ambition by implementing its 60 years of agenda of ‘Ek Vedhan and Ek Nishan’ with the revocation of Article 370 and Article 35A,” he said.
He said that, “I want to send a message from here to the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi that on August 5, 2019 that they revoked Article 370 and 35A because it was in their agenda for the last 60 years. However, you should know that the people of J&K would get benefits from the special status in the shape of protection to jobs and lands. But the same is not being protected by the present Government.”
He said that “The people’s aspirations were not considered but the special status was revoked as it suited to the BJP. However, as the matter is before the Supreme Court, we have hopes with the Apex Court in the interest of the people.”
Meanwhile, he said that “The jobs were protected for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir only when the Apni Party raised serious objections against the reservation of Class-4th jobs for the educated youth of J&K. Our youth is not incompetent. It was after our fight for the rights of the people of J&K the jobs could be protected and reserved for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir. Apni Party wants to protect the future of the young generation, unity in J&K, brotherhood, and protection to the land and natural resources of the erstwhile State,” he said.
Referring to the exploitation of natural resources, he said that Apni Party will not allow outsiders to exploit the natural resources of Jammu and Kashmir if it comes to power and re-assured about the commitment to provide protection of rights to the people.
He also condemned the downgrading of the historic State of Jammu and Kashmir into a Union Territory and demanded restoration of statehood.
Earlier, Altaf Bukhari expressed shock over the death of three persons including two minors who died in Kathua following heavy rainfall.
Prominent among those who attended the one day convention include provincial president, Jammu, Manjit Singh, additional general secretary, Arun Kumar Chibber, provincial vice president Jammu, Ex-MLA Faqir Nath, president Kandi (Bani-Basohli), Yasir Choudhary and others.