Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) President Muhammad Altaf Bukhari Thursday said road map of his party is to get back the lost identity of J&K on August 5 last year.
Speaking after a membership drive function was organised by the Party in Jammu where party is gaining a foothold in the traditional bastion of other political parties.
“Our road map is clear. We want to get back the identity we lost on August 5. We want to secure the livelihood of our children, securing employment opportunities and land rights of our own people besides the overall development of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
He added, “We also want to bring people of Jammu and Kashmir close to each other. We don’t want to give any emotional slogan. The politics of turning people of Jammu and Kashmir against each other in the last 72 years has ended now. You are witnessing that people in both Jammu and Kashmir are joining the Apni party now. It shows that people on both sides have faith in us and are against any division between them. I am happy we are getting the support for our idea and vision from the people in both Jammu and Kashmir.”
On a question about statehood, Bukhari said Statehood is the main agenda of the party and will fight for its restoration.
Without naming any party or politician, Bukhari responded to a question on Gupkar declaration, he said, “August 5, 2019, is a sad day for every one of us- that day we lost our identity. We are striving to bring back that identity. We don’t believe that it will come with any declaration. The case of restoration of 35 A or 370 is in the Supreme Court and only it can restore it or the central government. The Central Government is not doing it. Even parties who are part of the declaration say that the central government can restore it if it wishes. When special status was scrapped the Apni party did not exist then. Our people who joined us where in different parties then will knock the door of the Supreme Court and everyone has to accept the decision of the Supreme Court. We will pray that the verdict comes according to the wishes of the people.”
Bukhari yesterday chaired a maiden executive party meeting on Wednesday and demanded an economic package for people associated with business and trade.
“The government should support the business community, traders, small shopkeepers, people associated with the tourism industry, industrialists and the farmers, with an economic package to revive the shattered economy. It will help to infuse new life to the sinking market and generate employment opportunities,” said Bukhari, in a statement.
He said the government should frame a comprehensive policy to overcome the losses suffered by people, recalling that many also lost employment in organised and unorganized sectors, too.
The executive members who attended the meeting included GH Mir, Aijaz Ahmed Khan, Choudhary Zulfikar Ali, Usman Majeed, Vijay Bakaya, Vikram Malhotra, Manjit Singh, Syed Asgar Ali and Namrita Sharma. Besides, the meeting was also attended by JKAP senior leader Muhammed Dilawar Mir. Meanwhile, Ex-MLAs Kamal Arora and Mumtaz Khan joined the meeting as special invites.
During the meeting, Bukhari was appraised about issues of Jammu division. Intensifying their political activities, the JKAP executive meeting decided to launch membership drive and constitute district level committees. Bukhari directed the leaders to highlight the issues of public concern while remaining in the field among people. In the absence of an elected Government, the JKAP leaders were directed to work as a bridge to facilitate redressal of their issues of people. KNS