21-05-2023 : Syed Mohammed Altaf Bukhari, the leader of the Apni Party, has criticized the BJP and the current government in Jammu and Kashmir for delaying the assembly elections. He says the BJP is avoiding the elections because of bad administration and its failure to deal with problems with employment, development, and other public concerns.
In Tehsil Mongri, Udhampur district, Bukhari expressed his dissatisfaction with the current situation during a workers’ meeting. He drew attention to the underdeveloped infrastructure, rising unemployment, and unresolved problems in the health and education sectors, not just in Mongri and Panchari but also in other regions of Jammu and Kashmir. These elements have contributed to rising public disapproval of the administration.
Bukhari emphasized that without an elected government, there is a lack of accountability among the officers on the ground, making development a distant dream for the residents of Mongri, Panchari, and other neglected villages in the Udhampur district. While the administration seems to focus on developing Udhampur town, basic amenities such as clean drinking water, electricity, healthcare, and education facilities are lacking in the villages. Bukhari assured that if his party forms the government, they will issue white papers on the development in each district to ensure equal and fair progress. He emphasized that the Apni Party will work in accordance with the wishes of the people.
During his address, Bukhari expressed shock at the poor condition of roads without proper black-topping in Mongri tehsil, highlighting the neglect by elected representatives over the past 72 years. He also criticized the inadequate supply of clean drinking water and the subpar condition of the local hospital, which contradicts the UT administration’s claims of revolutionizing development in Jammu and Kashmir.
Bukhari lamented the lack of development and the disregard for the welfare of the people, expressing concern about the livelihood of the locals and the threat faced by laborers. He demanded employment opportunities for locals and urged against the harassment and replacement of laborers, which would benefit non-locals.
Additionally, Bukhari called for an increase in the upper age limit for aspirants of prestigious administrative and civil services exams, aiming to enhance opportunities for general category candidates.
He criticized traditional political parties for exploiting the sentiments of the people and highlighted the BJP’s governance in Jammu and Kashmir over the past nine years. According to Bukhari, the BJP failed to protect the rights of locals, while encouraging outsiders to benefit from the region through contracts, mining, and the opening of numerous liquor shops.
Bukhari also expressed concern about the non-advertisement of 2 lakh vacant government positions, the influence of non-locals in the administration, and the marginalization of JKAS/JKPS officers, resulting in major recruitment scams. He assured that if the Apni Party forms the next government, they will protect the employment rights of locals, regularize daily wagers, advertise all vacant government posts, and ensure equitable development across all regions.
Bukhari called upon the people to support the Apni Party to end discrimination and injustice witnessed over the last seven decades. He highlighted that the Apni Party was founded when other political parties were reluctant to speak up for the people after August 5, 2019.
The Apni Party Vice President, Choudhary Zulfkar Ali, expressed his regret over the division of Jammu and Kashmir into a Union Territory, undermining the rich Dogra culture and compromising their rights.
Manjit Singh, the Provincial President of Jammu, highlighted various initiatives and policies of the Apni Party, including the restoration of the old pension scheme for government employees, provision of clean drinking water, enhanced pensions for widows, the disabled, and the elderly, free electricity during summers and winters, and support for underprivileged families through schemes such as Ujjawala.