Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Feb 11: Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari has said that one must maintain close ties with New Delhi to ensure that Jammu and Kashmir’s problems are resolved. He also stated that regaining Statehood for J&K could be a time-consuming process and achieving this goal requires persistent engagement with the Central Government.
Talking to media-persons here Bukhari criticized those who claim that statehood will be restored automatically just because the Home Minister has made a commitment in this regard on the floor of Parliament.
“How does it matter what was said in Parliament? Don’t you remember that in 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru, as Prime Minister, made a commitment about self-determination on the floor of Parliament, stating that the right of self-determination would be granted to the people of Jammu and Kashmir? Did we get it? Has anybody given us this right, even after a Prime Minister made a commitment about it? Similarly, it doesn’t matter what has been committed regarding Statehood. We have to demand it from New Delhi by reaching out and convincing the Centre that it is in the nation’s best interest. By the way, Statehood is no longer a matter of restoration; rather, it has to be its re-creation now,” he remarked.
When asked about Apni Party’s close ties with the BJP Government at the Centre, Bukhari said, “There is nothing wrong with having close ties with the Centre. I have never denied it, nor I am embarrassed about being close to the Centre, where the BJP is in power. One has to maintain close relations with New Delhi if the issues are to be resolved. The solution to J&K’s issues will come from New Delhi, which is why J&K’s ruling party, after receiving a huge public mandate, is now making every effort to strengthen its ties with the Centre. It’s simple—our problems will be solved by the Centre.”
On the deteriorating law and order situation in Jammu and Kashmir, Altaf Bukhari said, “I think the situation is better if we compare it with the past. However, the recent incidents of killings suggest that the turmoil has not ended yet. We saw unfortunate incidents occurring in recent days. An ex-Army man was killed in Kulgam, a truck driver was killed in Sopore, and a man was forced to commit suicide in Kathua’s Billawar. Such incidents have the potential to have an adverse impact on peace in the region.”
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