Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 23: Apni Party president, Syed Mohd Altaf Bukhari today said that Apni Party is not averse to formation of People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) but is in principle against its hollow slogans with which its signatories want to hoodwink the people in Jammu and Kashmir.
Bukhari set off on his maiden election campaign trail for District Development Council (DDC) elections at Bandipora and remarked that Apni Party’s contesting candidates across J&K are the agents of development and political change. He said Apni Party is not against any kind of democratic alliances formed between different political parties but the newly formed PAGD is spreading lies and is trying to befool the people through its false claims on the special status of J&K.
“Apni party also aspires for restoration of special status to J&K but since the matter is sub judice before the Supreme Court, we have not claimed anything about it. However, we also hope and pray that the verdict of the Apex Court on restoration of Articles 370 and 35-A should meet the aspirations of people of J&K,” he reiterated.
“Like its two tiers including Panch-Sarpanch and Block Development Council elections, DDC elections will complete the third of Panchayat Raj in J&K. These elections are purely meant for planning and development and those who are trying to compare these elections with any kind of referendum on the special status of J&K are befooling the people,” he observed.
“I want to remind those political parties who garnered votes to stop BJP in J&K and later on became its ally just for the sake of power and perks. Few leaders of the PAGD also enjoyed ministries in the NDA government. Those who are calling us names like A or B Team have been part of BJP until recently just for sharing power and positions. People have not forgotten these historical facts,” he remarked.
Bukhari said that it is crystal clear that the elected Members of Parliament belonging to the signatories of Gupkar Declaration who are crying hoarse about the Article 370 and 35-A have miserably failed to deliver on safeguarding the rights and interests of people of Jammu and Kashmir in the Parliament.
Senior vice president Ghulam Hassan Mir, vice president Usman Majid, district president Bandipora Syed Shafat Qazmi and others also spoke on the occasion.
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