Srinagar, 03-02-2024 : Apni Party President, Altaf Bukhari, asserted on Saturday that the endeavor to uproot dynastic parties such as the National Conference (NC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Jammu and Kashmir is no less than a Jihad, expressing hope that the upcoming polls would see the electorate removing these entrenched political entities.
Altaf Bukhari, who founded the Apni Party eight months after the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A, conveyed his optimism about the people decisively voting against the NC and PDP in the forthcoming elections. Addressing reporters in Srinagar, he remarked, “I am hopeful the people will uproot NC and PDP in the upcoming polls. For us to uproot the two parties is no less a Jihad.”
The Apni Party President pointed fingers at NC and PDP for contributing to the challenges faced by the people of Jammu and Kashmir, blaming them for promoting slogans of ‘autonomy’ and ‘self-rule’ that have allegedly exacerbated the current situation in the region. He criticized the leadership of these political parties for the predicament faced by the residents over the past 70 years.
With an eye on the upcoming elections, Altaf Bukhari urged the public to vote against the NC and PDP, emphasizing that the time has come for a shift away from the political legacy of these parties. He called upon the electorate to support the Apni Party, pledging a commitment to providing a dignified life for the youth in Jammu and Kashmir.
Bukhari, a former member of the PDP who served as a Minister in the PDP-BJP Government, articulated the belief that the people of Jammu and Kashmir can lead content lives within the Union of India, where more than 20 crores Muslims reside. He appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to ensure that the due rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir are granted within the ambit of the law. The call for uprooting dynastic politics and embracing a new political paradigm reflects the shifting dynamics and aspirations in the region in the post-Article 370 era.