Srinagar: Launching a new political outfit by the name of JK Apni Party, former J&K finance minister Altaf Bukhari on Sunday said that the regime will fight for restoration of statehood, domical right on land and jobs, besides holistic and equitable development of all regions of Jammu and Kashmir.
However, he refused to comment on scrapping of Article 370 and Article 35 A by the centre, says that the matter was sub-judice in the Supreme Court.
The launch of the new party, which includes defector MLAs and MLCs from PDP and Congress, comes at a time when about nine mainstream political leaders, including three Chief Minister, have been slapped with Public Safety Act (PSA) and several others remained under detention since August 5, when centre abrogated Article 370 and Article 35 A, besides bifurcated the state into two Union Territories (UT).
“JK Apni Party is a party which is not floated by a family. This party is by the commoners, for the commoners, of the commoners. The present circumstances warranted formation of a new political party comprising of those who all along had identified and related themselves to the social needs of multiple strata and factions of our society. The party that can respond to rational aspirations of people without promising them moon or stars. We are not here to sell dreams or fantasy to our people and instead shall always be pragmatic, honest and fair in our approach,” Mr Bukhari told reports during a press conference while launching the party on Sunday.
Answering a question whether he was the modern day Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad, a former Prime Minister of J&K, Mr Bukhari, said the economic vision of Mr Bakshi was relevant in today’s time. “Mr Bakshi had a political vision and he had an economic vision. Today when I see people associated with hotel industry, other industries, local shopkeepers are suffering. My conscious didn’t allow me to do nothing about the issue. My voice may not be relevant today, but it would be in the coming future because we are representing common people, who are suffering,” he said.
Mr Bakshi took over as Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir after NC founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah was dismissed from the position of Prime Ministership on August 8, 1953 and arrested by New Delhi. Mr Bakshi continued to remain the Prime Minister till 1964. National Conference sees Mr Bakshi as the one who betrayed Sheikh Abdullah and National Conference.
Answering a question whether JK Apni Party was the B-team of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has failed to make inroads in the valley, Mr Bukhari said he is not worried about such criticism as whenever someone tries to raise the issues of people, he is dubbed with many names.
On whether the party was created to initiate political activities in the valley after centre failed to do so, Mr Bukhari, who was finance minister on PDP quota in previous state government, said he doesn’t buy these argument. “Altaf Bukhari is an individual… his decision has been his and no one can thrust upon him their decisions,” he added.
Asserting that JK Apni Party will try to clear the mistrust between the people and centre, he said his party will try to act as a bridge between J&K and New Delhi. “We are for the release of mainstream political leaders, including three former chief ministers, besides hundreds of political workers, who have been lodged in different jails outside the valley,” Mr Bukhari said while answering a question.
He said his party will seek to ensure that JK’s destiny is driven by the people alone while preserving its identity, specifically the party will seek to secure the restoration (as already mentioned) of JK’s Statehood, protection of domicile rights specially with respect to disposition of land and employment in government services, preserve the self-respect and dignity of the people of Jammu Kashmir.
“The dignified return of Kashmiri Pandits, empowerment of youth and the women, achieve sustained and regionally balanced economic growth and articulate other popular demands of the people that have a bearing on their wellbeing will also be on the main agenda of the party,” he added.
“The decisions taken by the Union Government on August 5, 2019, besides scrapping of special status, have reduced the erstwhile princely State to the status of union territory. An unknown and unimagined situation in the 70 year long history of free India, where a full-fledged state enjoying an enviable position among its sister states has been demoted to a Union territory,” he said.
“Though unpleasant and bitter, it is an undeniable reality that the developments which took place in August 2019, particularly the deprivation of statehood has badly affected the self-esteem, pride and confidence of the people across Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.
The former minister said this has resulted not only into a complete breakdown of the political institutions but has also stalled the result oriented and purposeful developmental activity. Hence, he said a sense of aggressive discontentment on one side and an attitude of complete indifference prevails across Jammu and Kashmir on the other, which at any cost, can’t be left unattended and unaddressed.
“The people of J&K have every reason and right to conceive and envision every shade and aspect of a fully developed and civilized democratic society—a society where they can live in harmony and peace, free from discrimination, exploitation and prejudices of any kind or manner under a democratic system,” he said.
“Our people have had huge sacrifices to their credit for nurturing democratic spirit and an ever evolving political process in this region. Unfortunately, we never witnessed the desired results of our toil and efforts and instead, we were failed time and again by a particular vested interest class. And the result is that we are in a situation, where, we should have not been,” he added.
