Apni Party Calls For Unity Among All Political Entities To Protect J&K’s Rights

Srinagar : Expressing deep concern over the central government’s move to amend the J&K Reorganization Act, 2019, to give additional powers to the lieutenant governor (LG), Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Saturday called for unity among all regional political parties. He emphasised the need to collectively advocate for the restoration of J&K’s statehood with all the powers it held before August 5, 2019. He expressed his concern over the amendment, and said, “Amending the J&K Reorganization Act to Increase LG’s powers would eventually weaken the State, diminish the Assembly’s authority, and undermine the elected government in the future.”
Bukhari said that granting the lieutenant governor increased powers over the transfers and postings of all-India service officers, police, and the appointment of judicial officers. the amendment will eventually diminish the powers of the J&K Assembly and the elected government. Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters in Srinagar Bukhari urged all regional parties to join hands to ensure that J&K has an assembly and its elected government with the full range of powers it previously held.
Mr Bukhari said, “This is something alarming, and J&K’s political parties cannot afford to remain silent on this amendment. We need to unite and advocate for the rights of J&K and its people. Therefore, Apni Party, as a smaller and newer political entity, requests all regional political parties to set aside our political differences and join hands to ensure the restoration of rights to Jammu and Kashmir. We cannot afford a weak assembly and a powerless elected government. To effectively address pressing public issues and grievances, J&K needs a strong assembly and a capable government, regardless of who is elected. It is high time that we collectively raise our voice. This is imperative; it’s now or never.”
He further said, “We do not demand anything extraordinary; we simply ask to be granted what we are entitled to under the constitution of the country. Why shouldn’t J&K have an assembly and government with the same powers enjoyed by every other state? This is our right, and I urge all parties to unite in reclaiming this right.”