Jammu, Jan 29 : Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari today said that his party’s unparalleled contribution after the August 5, 2019, occurrence was to open up negotiations with the central government to ensure the protection of land and jobs for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
He emphasised that, “We need to keep negotiations going on with the Centre for our rights, rather than entering into any confrontations.”
The Apni Party leader was speaking at the Conclave organized by Gulistan News Channel in Jammu.
Several prominent political leaders were interviewed during this Conclave. The event was centered on the theme, ‘Badalta Jammu Kashmir, Nai Raho Ka Safar.’
Responding to a question about the Apni Party’s emergence at a time when Jammu and Kashmir was grappling with unusual situations, Altaf Bukhari said, “Apni Party was established post August 5, 2019. It was the time when Jammu and Kashmir and its people had been robbed of their rights. Ours was a 200-year-old state, which was reduced to a Union Territory and bifurcated. Post-August 5, there was chaos everywhere in Jammu and Kashmir. The routine life was paralysed in the entire J&K. Shops and transport were shut down. Thousands of people, including some political leaders, were kept in jails. Some leaders remained in their homes but chose to stay silent, rather than coming out in support of the people during that difficult time,” he said.
Bukhari went on to say, “In those difficult times, we, some like-minded friends, met and had a thorough discussion about the situation. We were disappointed to see that the leaders whom people needed most during that challenging period had chosen to remain silent. It was then that we decided to step forward to help our people. At that time, Jammu and Kashmir’s land and jobs were open to being taken by outsiders, and we wanted to protect both for the residents of J&K, ensuring their exclusive rights to land and employment in the region. For that, we had to talk to New Delhi and we decided to go for it.”
Bukhari said that engaging with the central government at a time when people in J&K were very upset with the ruling party in Delhi was a tough decision, which he and his colleagues took for the benefit of J&K and its people.
He said, “It was not an easy decision, and we knew the complications. We understood that coming forward to engage with New Delhi at that time was risky. By doing so, we were staking our honour, our image, and our political legacy. It required courage. Thank God we mustered it and demonstrated our resolve. As a result of our talks with the central government, we secured the protection of land and jobs for J&K people. Also, we ensured the release of 3,100 detainees, including some political leaders.”
“We too could have remained silent at that time or hidden ourselves, as some leaders did. These leaders formed the PAGD—which is now deceased—as a smokescreen to avoid shouldering responsibility when the people needed them the most. But we choose to come forward to shoulder our responsibility,” he added.
However, Bukhari said that the Apni Party’s significant contribution could not fetch its electoral descendants. “This tremendous contribution did not yield us electoral dividends, but that’s okay,” he said.
Asked about his recent statement that the Apni Party will work to get statehood restored. He further explained his point, saying, “We believe that negotiations are an important part of politics, and we must continue negotiations with New Delhi to resolve our issues. Those who ridiculed us just because we initiated dialogue with New Delhi after August 5, 2019, are now themselves trying hard to maintain communication with New Delhi.”
He further said, “In early August last year, when the LG was given more powers by the central government, the Apni Party called a press conference and urged all the parties to unite against it. After that, I received a phone call from Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami Sahib on behalf of the NC, and he informed me that there would be an all-party meeting on August 7. It gave me immense pleasure to receive this positive response. I hoped that, together, we would be able to convince New Delhi to withdraw the additional powers given to the LG. However, later, this proposed meeting was cancelled, and I still have no clue why it was cancelled. That is why I am saying that they should not be complaining about the dual control, now.”
Bukhari applauded Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s approach of not confronting New Delhi. (Agencies)
