“Book officials ,contractors responsible for highway mess”
Jammu: Apni Party President Syed Mohammed Altaf Bukhari Tuesday urged the Govt to book officials responsible for maintaining Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and contractors for their failure to keep the highway open for vehicular traffic.
Bukhari also demanded probe into the matter to expose the nexus between officials and contractors on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway which has posed serious threat to the lives of the people as well as the environment.
“The important lifeline to Kashmir has been closed for many days and the officials have failed to open it even today. The contractors have been working on the highway in an unscientific manner causing landslides and risking the lives of commuters,” said Altaf Bukhari.
Bukhari was speaking at a one day function organized by Apni Party in Jammu to facilitate the candidates who contested DDC elections in Jammu region.
Around 90 candidates were facilitated by Party President Altaf Bukhari to encourage them so that they can work among the people. Speaking before Party leaders, workers and DDC candidates, Bukhari said that the officers of J&K are demotivated and they feel powerless like politicians because of a few officials in the bureaucracy running the affairs of J&K.
“They have failed miserably even to keep an important Jammu-Srinagar National Highway opened for vehicular traffic. There is no snow clearance from the roads in parts of Kashmir Valley,” he added. Bukhari urged the Govt to book the erring officials and contractors for their failure to keep the highway open for vehicular traffic under national security.
Bukhari said that “It is an environmental disaster and the highway alignment is questionable without considering the consequences. The erring officials and contractors should also be booked under environmental disaster,” Bukhari said. He demanded intervention of the Green Tribunal into the issue of national importance.
“The environmental degradation has caused many issues for which the Govt should hold a probe to expose the nexus between officials and contractors for their poor planning and causing inconvenience to the commuters, traders and locals, besides posing threat to their lives,” he said.
He also took on the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration and sai the alliance will fall apart as they have divergent ideologies from each other. They have come under one umbrella for their political survival.
“They have not united for the people’s cause, but for their political motives. It was only the Apni Party which stood firmly for the people and demanded restoration of statehood to J&K, protection to land and jobs. All other political parties in J & K are trying to mislead the people for their political gains and they will not succeed since people have understood their tactics,” he added.
He reminded that the Govt of India reserved jobs for J&K people only after the intervention and efforts of the Apni Party. He hailed the decision of Govt to implement Forest Right Act and said that they wanted this Act in J&K for the benefit of Gujars, Bakerwals, Paharis, Kashmiries and others.
He demanded that J&K Bank should be kept an autonomous body and welcomed the new industrial policy and urged the Govt to frame a policy for the sick industrial units.
He asked the party leaders and workers to work among the people. “Tomorrow belongs to the Apni Party. You should go among the people and do work for their welfare. We should also prepare for assembly elections which could be held anytime in J&K,” he said.
He said that the abrogation of Article 370 and downgrading of J&K into a Union Territory was a black day for them and pledged that his party will continue struggle till the restoration of statehood to J&K and “we have hopes from the Supreme Court of India since the matter is before them.”
He also demanded release of political prisoners and holding of early assembly elections in J&K. Bukhari said that the Govt can reserve seven assembly seats and hold assembly elections without waiting for the delimitation commission’s report.
Bukhari also demanded restoration of 4G speed mobile internet, ration supply in snowbound areas; drinking water supply in areas affected with the inclement weather conditions and also expressed concern over earthquake in Chenab Valley.
He appealed to the Govt to ensure the officials of Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj give due respect to the position of Block Development Council, chairmen and District Development Council, chairmen across J&K.
Speaking on the occasion, Senior Vice President of Apni Party, Ghulam Hassan Mir said “We had no time to present our narrative. We got very little time despite that we contested DDC elections. We came out among the people amid a hostile atmosphere. It was a good achievement. Youth have supported us.”
Mir said that “Apni Party has not come into being for power. The traditional political parties have encouraged one region against the other and we are opposed to any kind of divisive politics.”
“The Apni Party has to unite the people of two regions. This Party chose those issues which unite both regions, but not divide,” Mir added. He appreciated the party leaders and workers for their hard work in the DDC elections. The DDC members included Nasreen Baji, Yasmeen Baji and others.
