SRINAGAR, July 27 : Apni Party President Altaf Bukhari on Saturday said that his party is committed to the fight for Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood and is prepared to lead the effort. He said this issue cannot be resolved without collective political pressure, and called on political leaders to come together to raise this demand seriously.
Bukhari said the matter of statehood concerns the public and should not be reduced to individual statements. He said while people must rally for the cause, in their absence, political leaders must step forward. He questioned whether any political party other than his own is making a serious push to pressurize the central government.
He said many leaders are speaking in their own interest and making selective appearances while avoiding coordinated efforts. He also said if anyone is taking the issue of statehood seriously, it is his party, which is actively organizing and mobilizing for it.
On opposition parties, Bukhari said the Congress party had supported the BJP during the events of August 5, 2019, and the abrogation of Article 370 would not have passed if Congress had taken a different stand. He said that this political alignment continues to impact the current situation.
Responding to a question about backdoor meetings with the Lieutenant Governor, Bukhari said he had named leaders who were removed by their parties for meeting with the LG. He questioned the outcome of such meetings, asking what the people gained from them. He said his party had safeguarded land and jobs, while others have little to show beyond individual benefits.
He said the PDP is not the same party that Mufti Mohammad Sayeed led and claimed that those loyal to the late leader are being sidelined. He invited such leaders to join his party, which he said belongs to the people and not any single family.
Bukhari said the public wants leadership that is rooted in the community, not a rotation of political families. He said his party is expanding in several districts, including in Uttar Pradesh, and more leaders are expected to join.
He also commented on the SITs probing recent killings, saying he believes the matter was a murder and hopes for a fair investigation. On governance, he questioned delays in key public welfare decisions and said the government should not hide behind administrative excuses.(KNS).
