Srinagar, Feb 14: Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Saturday urged New Delhi to restore dialogue with the people of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly the youth, saying meaningful engagement was essential to rebuild confidence and end the prevailing atmosphere of mistrust.
As per a statement issued here, addressing a workers’ convention at Charar-e-Sharief, Bukhari said the time was appropriate for initiating a constructive political process aimed at bridging gaps between the Centre and the people.
He also called upon the Jammu and Kashmir government to immediately conduct Panchayat and Urban Local Bodies (ULB) elections, asserting that grassroots democracy would remain incomplete without empowering local institutions.
“By holding the Assembly elections in 2024, one tier of the democratic process has been completed. However, real empowerment at the grassroots level requires Panchayat and ULB polls without further delay,” he said, adding that although such empowerment had been mentioned in the Lieutenant Governor’s address, the elected government appeared reluctant to move forward.
Expressing concern over rising unemployment, Bukhari demanded concrete steps to generate employment opportunities for the youth and criticised the recent budget for lacking a clear job-creation strategy.
He also sought rationalisation of the existing reservation policy to ensure fairness and balance. The Apni Party chief accused both the ruling National Conference (NC) and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of exploiting regional sentiments for political gain. According to him, each party criticises the other primarily to consolidate support in its respective strongholds, thereby undermining unity and harmony between Jammu and Kashmir regions.
Reflecting on the formation of his party on March 8, 2020, Bukhari said it was established during a period of uncertainty following the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A. He claimed the party had engaged with the Union leadership and advocated safeguards for land and employment rights, which, he said, contributed to the introduction of the domicile law requiring a minimum 15-year residency.
He suggested that, if serious about protecting local interests, the government should consider increasing the residency requirement for domicile eligibility. Bukhari criticised traditional regional parties, alleging they had long misled the public through unrealistic promises. He said the Apni Party lost in the 2024 Assembly elections because it refrained from making false assurances and instead pursued “truthful politics”.
He added that while the decisions of August 5, 2019 had caused deep wounds, any meaningful resolution would ultimately come through engagement with New Delhi.
Speaking on the occasion, senior party leaders highlighted local grievances and urged people to support what they described as a politics of accountability and public welfare. Party General Secretary Rafi Ahmad Mir assured residents that their issues would be taken up with the concerned authorities, while Media Advisor Farooq Andrabi appealed to people to participate responsibly in the democratic process. Several senior party leaders and office-bearers were present at the convention.
