JAMMU, SEPTEMBER 13(KNS): - Apni Party President Syed Mohammed Altaf Bukhari has directed party leaders to gear-up public outreach programmes in the wake of upcoming Urban Local Body and Panchayati Raj elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

As per a press release, Altaf Bukhari chaired an important meeting here at Apni Party Office in Gandhi Nagar, Jammu where senior provincial leaders, district presidents and heads of different wings held threadbare discussion regarding the party activities, and its strengthening of the party roots across Jammu Region.

In this meeting, the Apni Party leaders from across Jammu Region attended the meeting and they discussed various issues faced by the people in all the districts during the deliberation.

In his address, Altaf Bukhari directed that the party leaders and cadre on the ground should prepare for the Urban Local Body and Panchayati Raj elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

He also directed to gear-up the membership drive and public outreach programme while highlighting the public grievances for early redressal.

“For last several years, the absence of an elected Govt in Jammu and Kashmir has created a situation that has annoyed the people because of multiple issues surfaced across the erstwhile state of J&K especially in Jammu plains,” he said.

He said that the unilateral decision of the authorities to install smart meters and inflated electricity bills has overburdened the pockets of masses in Jammu plains.

“The continuous functioning of toll plaza on Jammu - Pathankot National Highway despite protests in Jammu – Samba - Kathua, underdevelopment, unemployment, drug addiction are such issues that has affected the normal life of the people, and they want that these issues should be addressed in a humanitarian way,” he said.

He asked the Party leaders to intensify their door to door campaign across the region and help the people by highlighting their issues.

“The people in J&K have remained victims of divisive politics and therefore, they should be provided unbiased representation,” he said addressing the party leaders.

He expressed surprise as to why the Assembly Elections are being delayed in Jammu and Kashmir when the people in Jammu as well as in Kashmir Regions equally demand restoration of Statehood and democratic system.

He however appreciated that the Urban Local Body and Panchayati elections are going to be held in J&K.

“We need to prepare for the UBL and Panchayat elections,” he directed again and appreciated the role of party leaders in Jammu region’s each district where the party has garnered support.

He said that the party has given a ray of hope to the people with its equitable development in all the regions, protection to the rights of the locals, their natural resources, land and employment.

He asked the leaders to educate people about the Apni Party’s policy and agenda.

Earlier, he discussed the political scenario in J&K with the Party leaders and stressed on the need for Assembly Elections that would provide relief to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

He said that “The bureaucracy has failed to come up to the expectation of the people and hence, it has taken many anti-people decisions leading to mistrust among the people against the authorities. The mistrust and feeling of alienation among the people must be addressed by holding elections and restoring statehood to the historic state of Jammu and Kashmir.”

Meanwhile, Apni Party Vice President Aijaz Ahmed Khan also spoke on the occasion while informing that the Apni Party has gained support from the people of all segments of society in Reasi, and Ramban districts like other parts of Jammu and Kashmir.

“The leaders and workers from different political parties have joined the Apni Party because of trust in the party and its leadership. If the Assembly Elections are held, we are expecting that we will be the single largest political party with the most assembly seats,” he said.

He said that the people have pinned their hopes with the Apni Party as it highlighted their issues and got them resolved regarding jobs, and land protection.

The Provincial President, Jammu, S. Manjit Singh informed about the Apni Party’s active role in addressing public issues and the grievance redressal cell within the party.

He also informed about the outreach programme, membership drive and other scheduled programmes of the party to connect with the masses.

“The people are fed up with the authorities and they want Assembly Elections in J&K,” he said recalling the series of protests held by the Apni Party against the installation of smart meters and Sarore Toll Plaza, Samba.

He said that the commuters are suffering because of the pathetic condition of Jammu-Pathankot and Jammu-Srinagar highway and illegal collection of toll tax at Toll Plaza Sarore in Samba district.

Prominent among those who were present on 

the occasion include Senior Vice President, Jammu, Ex-MLA Qamar Ali Choudhary, Provincial Vice President Prem Lal, Vice President Sheikh Shafi, Additional General Secretary (organization), Arun Kumar Chhiber, District President Poonch, Ex-MLA Shah Mohd. Tantray, State Secretary, Mohinder Singh Parihar, Provincial Secretary, Dr. Rohit Gupta, Provincial Secretary, Sohan Singh, Provincial Secretary, Riyaz Atish, State President ST Wing, Saleem Alam Choudhary, State President SC Wing, Bodh Raj, State President Apni Trade Union, Ajaz Kazmi, OBC State President, Bhagat Ram, District President Jammu Rural-A, Pushap Dev Kumar Uppal, District President Jammu Rural-B, Adv. Harpreet Singh, District President Samba, Raman Thappa, District President Udhampur, Hans Raj Dogra, District President Ramban, Kirpal Singh, District President Doda, Saleem Magrey, District President Doda Rural, Anil Kumar, District President Kishtwar, Mashood Mattoo, District President Rajouri, Syed Manzoor Hussain Shah Bukhari, District President Rajouri Rural, Bushan Uppal, Provincial President Women Wing, Pavneet Kaur, Provincial President Legal Cell, Advocate Vikram Rathore, Provincial President SC Wing, Advocate Lovely Mangool, Provincial President Transport Union, Tirath Singh, Provincial President ST, Shabir Kohli, Provincial President 

Apni Trade Union, Raj Sharma, Spokespersons - Khushbu Bhagat, Raqeeq Ahmed Khan (also State Vice President Youth & Media Coordinator), Abhay Bakaya (State General Secretary Youth Wing), District President Legal Cell, Advocate Sahil Bharati, Provincial Secretary, Adil Wani, Senior Vice President District Jammu, Vaibhav Mattoo, Incharge Inderwal, Ashiq Hussain, and others.(KNS)