Shafiq Mir joins Apni Party
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 12: Maintaining that era of emotive politics is over, Jammu Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) chairman Altaf Bukhari today applauded PAGD for its decision of contesting the upcoming DDC elections and
“It took Sheikh Abdullah 22 years to decide what is the right track, however, the PAGD was able to choose the right track in less than a month,” he said while addressing a press conference, here at the party headquarters.
“It is a welcome development as it was good to see leaders associated with the PAGD shunning the ’emotional slogans’ as such things have always swayed the youth of Jammu and Kashmir towards wrong,” he added.
Bukhari, on the occasion, also welcomed the J&K Panchayat Conference, an amalgam of Sarpanchs and Panchs led by Shafiq Mir into the Apni Party fold.
Bukhari also said that until a few days back, those who happen to be in the PAGD would say that elections hold no worth for them. “But they have decided to fight DDC polls and they still claim that they aren’t power-hungry,” he jeered.
He said that today’s youth have seen worse situations than ever. “In the past 70 years, whatever was earned was snatched,” he said.
Mr Bukhari sought to clarify that the party has not given up on its fight for the restoration of Article 370 and said that it will also fight against the changes in the land laws and the restoration of statehood for J&K.
“We are concerned about Article 370 but the case is in the Supreme Court. We have five MPs who failed to protect the special identity of Jammu and Kashmir. Our hope lies in the Supreme Court,” he explained.
He said that the top leadership of the country has to stand by its promise of giving back statehood to J&K. “Our party demands restoration of statehood which has been promised by the leaders of the country in the Parliament; it is a promise made with the people of J&K,” he said.
The Apni Party chief also vowed to fight for the restoration of special status to J&K and said that it cannot be undone until 272 MPs vote in favour of it.
On the occasion, the party declared ‘Cricket Bat’ as its election symbol. Ghulam Hassan Mir and other senior leaders of the party were also present on the occasion.
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