Bukhari floats new party, bats for statehood, domicile rights
J&K APNI PARTY Want to end atmosphere of mistrust between New Delhi and J&K, says ex-PDP minister
Former minister Altaf Bukhari on Sunday launched the Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) here as he vowed to work towards restoring J&K’s statehood and ensure domicile rights of people in jobs and education.
Bukhari, 60, announced the formation of the JKAP at his residence and was flanked by around 20 former MLAs and senior leaders of political parties such as the National Conference (NC), the People’s Democratic Party, the Congress, besides some ex- Independent legislators. He was elected president of the JKAP unanimously.
Bukhari said that ‘deprivation’ of statehood has ‘badly affected the self-esteem and confidence’ of people across J&K and they wanted to respond to the ‘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,” he said.
“This is a party by the commoners, for the commoners and of the commoners,” the former PDP leader said at his Lal Chowk residence which was fortified ahead of the launch.
Bukhari said that there was an atmosphere of mistrust between New Delhi and J&K which they wanted to end. “Jammu wants statehood and so does Kashmir. Similar is the case with domicile rights and jobs. Whatever is the distance between New Delhi and people of J&K, our efforts will be to end these distances,” he said.
The party was launched amid the political vacuum in J&K owing to the incarceration of its mainstream political leaders, including three former chief ministers Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, for the past seven months.
The Centre had revoked the erstwhile state’s special status granted to it under Article 370 and split it into Union territories of J&K and Ladakh on August 5.
When asked about the reports whether the new party has the patronage of New Delhi, Bukhari rubbished the claims. “I don’t buy these arguments. Altaf Bukhari is an individual; he has been driven by his own decisions,” he said. However, he said they will have to do business with Delhi irrespective of the party which is in power.
“We don’t look at Delhi from the point of who is ruling in Delhi today. We look at it from the government of India and we have to deal with government of India. We have no hesitation in that,” he said.
Those who were present during the launch included leaders like Hasan Mir (Democratic Party Nationalist), Dilawar Mir (former PDP leader) and Usman Majeed(former Congress leader) and many other former legislators and members of PDP,Congress and NC.
When asked about the detention of the former chief ministers, Bukhari demanded the release of all leaders.
IT’S AN OFFSHOOT OF BJP, SAYS J&K CONG
Political parties in Jammu and Kashmir termed JKAP as an offshoot of BJP and central government. J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) chief GA Mir said the people have already witnessed the offshoot of the saffron party in the political system of J&K.
“Now some people have again come up with a new formation, but the agenda and motive behind this formation would be clear to people very soon,” he added.
National Conference spokesperson Imran Nabhi Dar said the emergence of new political formulations was a handiwork of those who want to blunt the true representative voices of J&K.