Srinagar, Aug 30: Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Sunday made a heartfelt appeal to Kashmiri Pandits to return to the Valley, saying their homecoming was essential to reclaiming the shared cultural heritage and restoring the peace, prosperity and harmony that once characterised life in Srinagar.
Bukhari made the remarks while addressing a workers’ convention in Habba Kadal, Srinagar, attended by a large gathering of local residents and party workers.
Recalling his childhood memories of living alongside Kashmiri Pandits, Bukhari said Muslims and Pandits had shared a close bond of mutual respect, trust and brotherhood.
“I vividly remember the days when, as children, we used to attend tuition classes taught by some of the finest Pandit teachers. I also fondly remember the time when Muslims and Kashmiri Pandits lived together happily and prosperously, sharing a bond of mutual respect, trust, and brotherhood,” he said.
Making a direct appeal to the displaced community, Bukhari said, “I urge my Kashmiri Pandit brethren to return so that, together, we can rediscover the past glory of our beautiful shared culture and work towards restoring peace, prosperity, and harmony.”
His remarks came as he spoke about what he described as the prolonged developmental and economic challenges facing Srinagar’s Shehr-e-Khaas. He urged residents not to remain dependent on traditional political parties and instead become more aware of their political and democratic rights.
Bukhari expressed concern over the condition of Srinagar city and the difficulties faced by its residents, including inadequate basic amenities, housing shortages, unemployment and limited livelihood opportunities.
He said that despite the city having around nine lakh residents, many people continue to struggle with basic necessities, while educated youth face unemployment and are often compelled to take up petty jobs.
He also criticised the existing reservation policy, claiming that it had adversely affected employment opportunities for residents of the city.
Bukhari blamed successive political leaderships for what he termed the prolonged lack of development in Srinagar and cited the filling up of the historic Nallah Mar as an example of damage to the city’s natural and historical infrastructure.
He said the waterway had historically connected Dal Lake and the Brari Nambal lagoon with the River Jhelum and Anchar Lake, and argued that its filling had damaged Srinagar’s drainage and waterway system while also eroding an important part of its heritage.
Bukhari also urged residents to participate responsibly in the electoral process and vote wisely whenever the Urban Local Bodies polls are held, saying elected representatives should be chosen on the basis of their ability to address developmental concerns.
Speaking on the occasion, former Cabinet Minister and Apni Party Senior Vice President Ghulam Hassan Mir said the people of Srinagar were facing severe hardships due to inadequate housing, limited livelihood opportunities and a chronic developmental deficit.
Mir also criticised restrictions faced by residents in constructing houses and commercial establishments on their own land, saying such issues had added to the difficulties confronting people in the city.
He expressed concern over the problems faced by youth, including limited employment opportunities and difficulties related to passport issuance and verification processes for jobs and passports,
Questioning the government over its response to public grievances, Mir said people had placed their trust in elected representatives and expected them to address their concerns.
Apni Party Provincial President Mohammad Ashraf Mir also addressed the gathering and appealed to residents to support the party, saying it was not controlled by any particular family or individual and that its primary agenda was to serve the people.
He said strengthening the party would enable it to pursue its stated agenda of peace, prosperity and development in Jammu and Kashmir.
