Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Feb 14: Apni Party president , Syed Mohd Altaf Bukhari today urged the Centre to restore dialogue with the people, especially the youth of Jammu and Kashmir, for confidence-building and to end the negative environment. He said that this is the appropriate time to end mistrust and negativity through meaningful dialogue.
Bukhari also urged the J&K Government to take measures for the immediate holding of Panchayat and Urban Local Bodies elections. He also demanded that the existing reservation policy be rationalised.
The Apni Party president made these remarks while addressing a workers’ convention in Charar-e-Sharief.
He said that by holding Assembly elections in 2024, one tier of the democratic process was completed, but to ensure grassroots-level empowerment of the people and strengthen grassroots democratic institutions, it is important that Panchayat and ULB polls are held without any further delay.
He further said that grassroots-level empowerment through Panchayat and ULB polls was mentioned in the LG’s address to the House, but it seems that the elected government is not serious about holding these elections.
Expressing his concern over growing unemployment, Bukhari demanded that the government take concrete measures to create employment opportunities for the youth. He said that, unfortunately, there was nothing in the recently passed budget to generate job opportunities. He further stressed that the existing reservation policy must be rationalised to ensure fairness and balance.
Accusing the ruling NC and the Opposition BJP, along with their leaders, of dividing people for personal and political gains, he said that both parties are hand in glove and are helping advance each other’s agenda.
“After the events of August 5, thousands of people were jailed, and the Apni Party played a role in securing the release of 3,200 prisoners. That was our contribution at that time,” he added.
The other prominent party leaders who spoke on the occasion included Rafi Ahmed Mir, Yawar Dilawar Mir, Owase Ashraf Shah, Adv Gowhar, Mukhtar Ahmad Dar, Ghulam Hassan and others.
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