Local residents must have first right on natural resources in J&K: Bukhari

‘Apni Party will ensure that pellet victims receive Govt assistance for their lifetime’

STATE TIMES NEWS

SRINAGAR: Apni Party President, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, on Wednesday, said that the local residents should have the first right on the natural resources in Jammu and Kashmir.
He said Apni Party, when gets the public mandate to serve, will take a range of initiatives aimed at fostering the economic empowerment of the people of Jammu and Kashmir while effectively utilizing its natural resources.
He also pledged that the Apni Party will ensure that those hundreds of victims who were showered with pellets during the PDP’s tenure in 2016 receive government assistance for their lifetime.
He made these commitments on Wednesday while addressing public rallies in Ganderbal and Kangan. These vibrant events were part of the party’s ongoing campaign for the Lok Sabha polls.
Taking a dig at the family parties, specifically NC and PDP, Bukhari said that these parties never allowed democracy to flourish in J&K over the past seven decades.
He said, “These dynastic parties never allowed democracy to flourish here during the past seventy years. Unfortunately, New Delhi also permitted these parties to establish autocracy under the guise of democracy.”
Lashing out at the PDP, Bukhari recalled, “When this party was established, its founder leader claimed that he believed in democratic values and was against family rule. However, upon his passing, he did not forget to pass the reins of the party to his daughter, who is now grooming her own daughter to perpetuate the legacy of dynastic rule.”
“During the three-year tenure of this government, hundreds of people, mostly children, were killed and thousands injured, including about seven hundred boys and girls with pellet injuries. The leader of the party even tried to justify these killings by heartlessly remarking, ‘Kiya ye bachay chocolates aur doodh lene niklay thay’ (Had these children come out of their homes to fetch chocolates and milk for themselves). These ruthless words will always haunt people in Kashmir.”
Bukhari said that he wonders to see the leaders of these parties come to the people seeking votes. He said, “I wonder where they get the courage to face the people and seek their votes even after their hands are stained with the blood of innocents.”
“Even the Home Minister of the country recently revealed that the unknown gunmen responsible for the killings here were actually affiliated with parties such as NC, PDP, and Congress,” he added.
Apni Party leader appealed to the people to reject the traditional parties and their leaders through the power of their votes. He urged them to strengthen the Apni Party, enabling it to implement its agenda for peace, prosperity, and development in Jammu and Kashmir.
He appealed for their support and vote for Mohammad Ashraf Mir, who is the party’s candidate for Lok Sabha polls.