Questions NC’s silence over eviction, harassment of Gujjars in Samba
STATE TIMES NEWS
RAJOURI: Asking people to defeat the divisive agenda that is being promoted by the two dynastic political parties, the Apni Party President, Syed Mohammed Altaf Bukhari on Monday said that the politics of hate has promoted regional bias, detention of youth, underdevelopment, and unemployment in the Pir Panjal region for the last seven decades.
Speaking at a public rally that was organized in Rajouri, Altaf Bukhari sought vote and support in favour of the Party candidate contesting from Rajouri – Anantnag parliamentary seat, Zafar Iqbal Manhas.
While campaigning in favour of his Party’s candidate, he said that the National Conference and Peoples Democratic Parties have promoted the dynastic regime in Jammu and Kashmir whereas the common man continues to suffer with the lack of basic amenities, underdevelopment, and growing unemployment.
“These parties exploited the people by creating a wedge between them in the name of region or religion. However, it did not benefit the people. The time has come when the people should come forward and elect Zafar Iqbal Manhas sahab to the Rajouri – Anantnag Parliament seat for their bright future,” he stated, amid applause of the party leaders, and workers in the public rally.
He said that the Party is committed to provide equal opportunity to all the people irrespective of caste, creed, region, or religion. “
“It’s not about electing a Member of Parliament, but it would be a step towards ending the underdevelopment and bringing prosperity for the future generation,” he said, assuring the people that he would ensure that the people of Rajouri get its due share in development. While criticizing the National Conference as well as the Peoples’ Democratic Party, he said that they have restored to their old tactics to create division among the people on the name of region and caste to gain votes. However, the people have become aware, and it would not be easy for them to get any kind of benefit from the people.
Questioning the silence of the National Conference on the eviction and harassment of the tribal community in Jammu’s plain areas, he said that the NC used the Gujjars as their vote banks but did not utter a word against the harassment and eviction of the tribals from their land in Samba in Jammu Province.
He also grilled the National Conference for not providing protection to the tribal community and other dwellers under Forest Rights Act when they were in rule in the last many years in J&K.
“Trusting their hollow promises, the Gujjars support the NC, but they hardly protect their rights. However, the situation has changed nowadays because the tribals do not trust the NC-PDP anymore,” he added.
While explaining the policy of the party, he said that they believe in the unity and equality of the people from all the regions. They want to give a bright future to the young generation.
Accusing the regional parties (NC-PDP) for promoting mayhem in Jammu and Kashmir, he said that these parties had put the youth behind the bars whenever they ruled Jammu and Kashmir.
“These parties are responsible for instability in Jammu and Kashmir that resulted into the uncertain future,” he said, while asserting that Jammu and Kashmir’s future is with India.
In his address, he also raised a question mark on the breakup in the PAGD because of a clash of interest between the NC and PDP.
“These parties have forgotten their divisive agenda because NC does not speak about autonomy and the PDP also avoids speaking about self-rule,” he added.
Referring to the foundation of the Apni Party, he said that the Party came to the forefront to represent the people of Jammu and Kashmir when they were in distress, and these dynastic parties were not ready to represent them.
“…… we went to Delhi and got protection of jobs and land for the residents of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said, while responding to the critics and said that the Party would continue to work for the welfare of the common masses.
Meanwhile, he assured that the issue of two tunnel construct at Peer Ki Gali and Dera Ke Gali on historic Mughal Road would be take-up forcefully by the Party candidate, if he gets elected to the Lok Sabha from the Rajouri – Anantnag seat and the Party would stand firm to fulfill the promises made with the people regarding promotion of tourism, border tourism, exploring possibility of generating employment at the local level.
Referring to the Statehood restoration, he sought support of the people to ensure that the lost honor of Jammu and Kashmir is restored.