Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Mar 20: Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party today organized a one-day convention in Kehribal-Mattan area of district Anantnag which was attended by various political activists and scores of local participants.
The convention was organized by Apni Party senior leader and Chairman Municipal Council Anantnag (MCA) Hilal Ahmad Shah in which Apni Party president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari presided as the chief guest. Besides the Party president, the convention was also attended by Party stalwarts including Ghulam Hassan Mir, Rafi Ahmad Mir, Mohd Ashraf Mir, Muntazir Mohi-ud-din, Abdul Rahim Rather and others.
Addressing the public at Kehribal-Mattan, Bukhari said that currently there exists no democratically elected Government in Jammu and Kashmir which could have efficiently addressed sufferings of the people. He said those who acted as the dynastical political heads of J&K in the past are now silent over the pressing issues that concern the lives of people.
“The leaders and political activists who once promised the moon to the people are acting as mute spectators while people suffer immensely. This is because they are concerned about saving their own skins now. The hollow cries of autonomy and similar verbose have gone hushed. It has evidently turned out to be a scam, with which they have tried to mislead the people of J&K for almost seven decades,” Bukhari remarked.
He said that Apni Party has never resorted to demagogy by playing with the emotions of the people, rather it focuses on tangible issues that are relevant for the welfare of people. “We never believe in preaching what cannot be practiced as some politicians try to do it without feeling a sense of shame. Our party has always stressed for an equitable development of Jammu and Kashmir.
Bukhari said that regaining statehood is a prime demand of Apni Party. He said, “Statehood is indispensable for such a vast region as Jammu and Kashmir. It cannot be further on managed by a bureaucratic setup. We urge the Central Government to make prompt efforts for restoration of statehood at an earliest so that democratic process would start accordingly in proper manner” Bukhari said.
Senior vice president Ghulam Hassan Mir said that people have suffered much in absence of a democratically chosen Government.
“I believe people have a right to choose their representatives to whom they can complain and take their problems for an immediate redressal. For that, the restoration of Statehood followed by immediate elections are imperative,” Mir said.
In the concluding remarks Chairman Anantnag Municipal Cooperation, Hilal Ahmad Shah thanked the party leadership for visiting district Anantnag and vowed to strengthen the party at grassroot level.