Srinagar, Mar 08 (KNS): Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari Friday termed PM Narendra Modi’s Kashmir visit a “welcome step”, and hoped restoration of Statehood to J&K, conduct of simultaneous LS and Assembly polls, and return of Kashmiri Pandits in a dignified way to their homeland.
Responding to a rift between NC and PDP over seat-sharing pact, Bukhari said the outlook both parties exhibited is true to their character as this behavior is in their genes. “They always duped Jammu & Kashmir and its people for their personal gains. The formation of PAGD was nothing but to hide wrongdoings these parties committed with people of Jammu & Kashmir in past seventy years,” he said.
Speaking exclusively to Kashmir News Service (KNS), Bukhari welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s March 7 Kashmir visit a “welcome step”. He said the message of Kashmiri’s is loud and clear that they want peace and it is what PM Modi has made it a mission.
Bukhari hoped that Apni Party is looking forward to PM Modi for restoration of Statehood, healing touch, simultaneous conduct of Parliamentary and Assembly elections in J&K and a concrete road map for the return of Kashmiri Pandits to their homeland.
To a query he said that for AP every day has been a challenge and the biggest challenge was to convince people that we speak truth. “People came to know that Apni Party is the only political outfit who speaks truth, and it is our biggest achievement,” he said.
He said truth has been a biggest casualty in all these seventy-years in Kashmir. “Apni Party many speak bitterly, but it is clear that we don’t tell lies to people,” Bukhahi told KNS on party’s 4th raising day event.
On Article 370, he responded that Apni Party didn’t wait for final verdict rather we went to New Delhi and met Prime Minister and Home Minister there and ensured reservation of jobs and land for local population. “Also due to our strenuous efforts we ensured release of 2500 to 3000 people from jails,” he added.
“We listen to people and give shoulder to their grievances. Though we are not in power but trying our best to ease out the sufferings of common people,” Bukhari held.
He said our party has a “distinction” of raking up people’s concern while other political parties are not even ready to listen to their people.
He also said that Apni Party is a 4-year old small child (new born political party), and I can’t say we will sweep elections, but Apni Party is an important player in the political arena of Jammu & Kashmir. This is the reality and it will remain a reality,” Bukhari said. (KNS)