Srinagar, August 10 (KNS) : Former Cabinet Minister and Apni Party Senior Vice President Ghulam Hassan Mir on Monday said that the “Apni Party is keen to engage with the younger generation, as young people are key stakeholders and the future of society.” He said that the youth must be “taken on board and actively involved in the process of shaping a better and brighter future for themselves.”

According to a statement issued, made these remarks today while addressing a party event at its headquarters in Srinagar. The event was organised to welcome a large number of young people from Srinagar’s Bemina area.

Among the prominent entrants were Mohsin Saqib Wani, Akeed Mushtaq, Danish Mushtaq, Umeed Bazaz, Junaid Muzaffar Bhat, and others. They joined the party along with their respective teams.

Addressing the occasion, Ghulam Hassan Mir said, “Apni Party’s policies and agenda are primarily aimed at striving for a better future for our youth. Our vision is to build a future that offers greater prospects, prosperity, and better livelihood opportunities. However, to achieve this, we must create an environment that enables our youth to realise their potential, pursue their aspirations, and build a secure and prosperous future. We need to create the right conditions for our youth to grow, prosper, and contribute meaningfully to the development of Jammu and Kashmir.”

He further said, “When the Apni Party said that our politics is rooted in truthfulness, our opponents made fun of it. But when we speak of the politics of truthfulness, we mean that we do not want to mislead our younger generation with emotional slogans and unattainable goals.”

“The fact is that the older generation bears much of the responsibility for the miseries our youth are facing today. Traditional political parties failed to create a conducive environment for our young people. Instead, they led them down a path where the choices before them were often either imprisonment or death,” Mir added.

Ghulam Hassan Mir said that Apni Party’s politics is about breaking away from that cycle. We believe our youth deserve a future built on opportunity, dignity, peace, and realistic aspirations—not empty slogans and promises that can never be fulfilled.

He further said that there was a time when our youth were pushed towards violence and a culture of guns. Many years have passed since then, but those who were young at the time are still suffering the consequences. Some remain in jails, while others continue to face difficulties because they are repeatedly summoned to police stations.

Taking a dig at the government, Mir said, “Unfortunately, our elected government has failed to deliver effective governance.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelThe ruling party sought votes from the people by promising to address their pressing issues and grievances. However, after receiving a massive mandate from the people, they now claim that they do not have the power to address public concerns.”

“The fact is that they lack the will, rather than the ability, to address the issues confronting the people. The people gave them a clear mandate and placed their trust in them, but instead of taking responsibility and working to resolve their problems, they have chosen to make excuses and shift the blame,” Mir added.

“Why is it that this government does not even talk about detainees or do anything to stop the harassment of our youth? Why doesn’t it take concrete steps to ensure that young people are able to obtain passports without unnecessary difficulty? And why is it not doing anything substantial to create meaningful job opportunities for our youth?” Mir asked.

“When an elected government fails to care for the future of its youth and does not provide them with the necessary facilities, opportunities, and avenues for growth, it loses its moral right to continue in office.” He added.

Ghulam Hassan Mir reiterated his demand for the Government of India to engage with the youth of Jammu and Kashmir through a meaningful dialogue aimed at understanding their issues and concerns and addressing them effectively. He said that such a dialogue between the Central Government and the youth of J&K is imperative to rebuild trust and bridge the prevailing trust deficit.

Speaking on the occasion, parties Chief Coordinator & District President Kulgam Abdul Majeed Paddar, assured the new entrants that Apni Party would provide them with ample opportunities to contribute towards building a better future and serving the people. He appealed to the younger generation to support Apni Party so that, together, we can strive for a brighter, more prosperous, and secure future for the youth and generations to come.

Besides Mir and Paddar, the prominent party leaders who were present on this occasion included State Vice President Mohammad Syed Akhoon, Pprovincial President Kashmir Mohammad Ashraf Mir, Media Advisor Farooq Andrabi, State organiser & Spokesperson Dr Harbaksh Singh, Provincial Vice President Kashmir Hakikat Singh, District President Srinagar Zaffar Habib, District President Ganderbal Javaid Mir, Organiser Central Kashmir Mohammad Shafi Mir, Youth District President Srinagar Ishtiyaq Khan, Youth Joint Secretary Srinagar Mudasir Wali, Dr Bilal, and others.(KNS)