Jammu, June 14: Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Sunday said his party remains committed to safeguarding the rights, interests and livelihoods of farmers in Jammu and Kashmir and would work to ensure that their concerns are addressed effectively.
Addressing a workers’ convention at Kotli Shah Doula in R.S. Pura, Bukhari said agriculture remains central to Jammu and Kashmir’s economy and called for policy measures to protect agricultural land and support farming communities.
Expressing concern over eviction drives and issues related to agricultural land, Bukhari said farmers in several areas have been facing distress and alleged that in some cases compensation has either not been paid or has not reflected prevailing market values.
He also referred to cases in R.S. Pura where, according to him, cultivators with possessory rights over land were yet to receive compensation after dispossession.
“We will continue to stand with the farming community and pursue their issues at every level,” he said, adding that steps should be taken to safeguard agricultural land and strengthen farmers’ welfare.
Bukhari said Jammu and Kashmir lacks a strong industrial base and that land continues to remain an important source of livelihood and economic security for local communities.
He also urged effective implementation of legal safeguards concerning land and called for greater attention to rural and agricultural concerns.
Commenting on industrial development, Bukhari questioned the outcomes of the industrial package announced for Jammu and Kashmir and alleged that the expected employment benefits had not adequately reached local youth.
The Apni Party chief also sought district status for R.S. Pura, citing its location and administrative requirements.
During the convention, Apni Party Senior Vice President Ghulam Hassan Mir stressed the need to examine challenges facing the agriculture sector and proposed constituting a commission to study the declining interest in farming.
Mir said changing livelihood preferences and difficulties faced by cultivators required policy intervention and renewed focus on agriculture.
He also demanded implementation of a Minimum Support Price (MSP) mechanism for farmers, saying it would help ensure stable returns and encourage agricultural activity.
Party Provincial President Manjit Singh also addressed the gathering and raised concerns over unemployment, calling for stronger measures to create job opportunities for youth in Jammu and Kashmir.
The event was attended by party workers and farmers from Jammu district and nearby areas and was organised by the party’s Kisan Wing.
