Srinagar, September 8: Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Tuesday described Jammu and Kashmir as being in a “critical phase”, saying the developments of August 2019 marked a major turning point for the erstwhile state.
Addressing an event at the party headquarters in Srinagar, where several political and social activists from the Hazratbal constituency joined the Apni Party, Bukhari criticised what he described as the silence of traditional political leadership following the abrogation of J&K’s special constitutional status and statehood.
Bukhari said the changes made in August 2019 had affected what he termed J&K’s exclusive rights over land and employment. He claimed the Apni Party subsequently engaged with the Centre and contributed to the restoration of protections for local residents.
“This was the Apni Party’s contribution at that critical juncture,” he said.
On the domicile issue, Bukhari said that had the Apni Party received a mandate in the 2024 Assembly elections, it would have sought to increase the residency requirement from 15 to 50 years.
He also criticised the present government for, according to him, failing to raise the issue despite six years having passed.
Welcoming the new entrants, Bukhari assured them of the party leadership’s support and urged them to work for the welfare of people in their respective areas.
Among those who joined the party were Khair-ul-Nisa, Ghulam Mohammad Rather, Adil Fayaz, Fazil Fayaz, Waheeda Ji, Naira Bano, Gulshana Ji, Fayaz Ahmad Bhat, Sajid Fayaz, Asif Ali, Abdul Rashid, Owais Israr and Nayeema Rather, among others.
