JAMMU, Nov 36(KNS): Apni Party President, Syed Mohammed Altaf Bukhari on Sunday has said that the imported Govt in Jammu and Kashmir has brought misery for the people of Jammu with no development and grab of resources by outsiders.

“Jammu is deeply disappointed with the present Govt and the BJP in particular as it failed to deliver what it had promised before the abrogation of special status from Jammu and Kashmir,” said Altaf Bukhari, while addressing a One Day Convention that was organized at Ratnu Chak in Jammu.

As a mark of respect, Bukhari offered heartfelt tributes to the victims of 26/11 during the convention while emphasizing unity and resilience.

During the one-day Apni Party convention, Altaf Bukhari welcomed Vishal Nariana, a prominent businessman, and his supporters into the party fold.  He hoped that their joining would strengthen the party in Jammu.

“The BJP had described Art 370 and Art 35A as stumbling blocks in the way of vast development, employment. It had also assured the people that after the abrogation of special status, the investment in Jammu and Kashmir for wider industrial growth to generate employment. However, nothing like this has happened till date,” he said, while citing the under development and disappointment among the people especially because the people from outside have grabbed resources and trades in Jammu.

He said that the local population feel cheated because the liquor, and contractor’s mafia is actively working with support from the Govt officials.

“These officials have also been imported to Jammu and Kashmir even as they do not know the ground reality, and these Govt officers have also no connect with the population and have become infamous for their actions that are completely anti-people i.e., anti-encroachment drive, boom in liquor shops, exploitation of natural resources, grab of private jobs and business sector,” he said.

He further stated that “Jammu and Kashmir never witnessed such a situation in the past where the local population has been completely sidelined and outsiders were encouraged in Govt as well as private sector.”

He said that the aspirants of various Govt jobs are still protesting the scams in the recruitment process for various posts, but their demands remain unaddressed.

“There is no accountability of the Govt officials. This is happening because there is no elected Govt in J&K and the Assembly Elections are not being declared in J&K without citing any reason which is very unfortunate and it has snatched the democratic right of the people to elect their own Govt,” he added.

He said that statehood to Jammu and Kashmir should be restored, and Assembly Elections must be held without delay because the anger is brewing among the people against the Govt that needs to be addressed by restoring the democratic system.

He said that the Govt has sidelined the Jammu Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) and Jammu Kashmir Police Service (JKPS) officers who could clarify the local issues and resolve them adequately.

“Unfortunately, the Govt has imported officers in administration and police from outside and they have no interest in addressing the public issues. In the absence of the local officers in the administration, one can witness the worsening condition of the Govt hospitals, educational institutes, road infrastructure etc.,” he said.

He said that if the Apni Party comes to power, his Party will recruit 6000 doctors, fill up vacant posts of teachers, lecturers and professors in Govt schools, and colleges. We will provide needed infrastructure in a stipulated time frame. Around 22000 posts of teachers are vacant in Jammu and Kashmir.

“There will be accountability and public issues would be resolved on priority basis, if we form the next Govt,” he said, while criticizing the Govt that has failed to end the underdevelopment, and address employment issues in Jammu.

He also said that the doctors and paramedical staff for AIIMS Jammu (Vijaypur) shall be recruited from Jammu, not from outside.

Meanwhile, he expressed concern over the emerging security situation in Rajouri-Poonch where the terror related incidents have happened.

He however appreciated the local population living along the International Border and Line of Control for bravely facing the enemies and helping the defence forces in protecting the nation’s internal security.

Besides, he also asked the people that they should not worry about the authorities for their selective drives in Jammu.

“Not an inch of land will be snatched from you. We will not allow such anti-encroachment drives that aim to displace people from their land,” he said, assuring support from the Apni Party.

He said that the Party will regularize the land if it comes to power.

Besides, the Apni Party Senior Vice President, Ghulam Hassan Mir said that the people in both the regions in J&K demand restoration of statehood and holding of Assembly Elections.

Questioning the authorities for inaction against the mining mafia, he said that the situation in Jammu has changed because the people are getting construction material on inflated charges and the electricity tariff has also increased manifolds.

“The Jammu is getting power cuts in winters even after paying charges of electricity usage, but the JPDCL has failed to ensure 24/7 electricity despite installing smart meters. The situation is even worse in Kashmir regarding electricity supply with unprecedented power cuts,” he added.

He criticized the traditional political parties for dividing the people of Jammu and Kashmir regions on the name of region, religion, and class struggle.

“The Apni Party is committed to promote unity, equality and equitable development of all the regions irrespective of caste, creed, region or religion,” he said.

He appealed to the people to strengthen the party. “Jammu as well as Kashmir is equally suffering because of no elected Govt. The people in Jammu had voted BJP to power in 2014 assembly elections, but they failed to do the needful. Hence, the people landed in a situation where their miseries have increased,” he added. He further said that the holding of assembly elections is must in Jammu and Kashmir to address all the issues of development, and employment.

In the meantime, the Apni Party Vice President, Choudhary Zulfkar Ali recalled in which circumstances the Apni Party was founded when there was complete uncertainty and hopelessness among the people post-August 5, 2019.

“Before the abrogation of special status, the people were assured development and employment. While the elections are being held in our neighboring states to elect their Govt, Jammu and Kashmir is denied elections even after five years without citing reason,” he said.

As the Govt is run by the babus, he said that they have lost their connection with the people and this situation has widened the gap between the Govt and the people.

He also raised questions about the delay in holding Panchayati Raj, and Urban Local Body elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

With the end of the tenure of the PRIs, ULB; he said that the Govt officials would work in a wayward manner that would further increase the mistrust among the people.

He said that the outsiders have grabbed the local business and the employment. “Maharaja Hari Singh had protected our identity. But after the abrogation of special status, the Jammu’s Dogra are among the most sufferers,” he said, while questioning the BJP as it misled the people with false and hollow slogans.

He however said that the people have pinned their hopes with the Apni Party and its President Syed Mohammed Altaf Bukhari sahab to bring them out of this situation. 

Earlier, the Apni Party Provincial President Jammu, Manjit Singh highlighted the difficulties faced by the people in Jammu, Samba, Kathua and Udhampur particularly in the industrial sector.

“The outsiders are being employed in skilled and unskilled jobs by violating the set norms. The local youths have been denied employment and it has given rise to unemployment,” he said.

He expressed hope that the people have expressed faith in the agenda of equitable development, peace, prosperity and employment of Apni Party and joined the Party in large numbers from the plain areas.

Prominent among those who were present on the occasion includes Faqir Nath, Prem Lal, Mohd Shafi Sheikh, Arun Kumar Chibber, Raman Thappa, Nirmal Kotwal, Dr Rohit Gupta, Hans Raj Dogra, Bodh Raj Bhagat, , Bhagat Ram, Ajaz Kazmi, Raqeeq Ahmed Khan, Abhay Bakaya, Adv Lovely Mangol, Vipul Bali, Pavneet Kour, Raj Kumar Sharma, Vikram Rathore, Kuldeep Sudan, Sarpanch Makhan Lal, Sarpanch Joginder, Panch – Surjeet, Raj Sharma, Anirudh Khajuria, Adv Sahil Bharti,  Priyanka Mangotra, Babu Ram Bhagat, Manzoor Hussain, Choudhary Bachan, Mangat Ram, Sandeep Vaid, Jyoti, Sheetal Sharma, Neelam Gupta, Rupali Rani, Vicky Sudan, Shweta Devi and others.(KNS).