Poonch, Jul 16: Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari on Thursday said his party is rebuilding its organisation from the grassroots after the 2024 Assembly elections, while sharply criticising the National Conference government over development, employment and infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing reporters during his five-day tour of the Pir Panjal region, Bukhari said the party had deliberately refrained from political activity immediately after the elections.
“After the 2024 elections, we did not come here. The party did not fare very well in the elections, so for six to eight months we gave the new government time. We remained quiet. After that, we tried to strengthen our organisation at the grassroots in the Kashmir Valley, and now the second phase was Jammu.”
He said the tour covered Surankote, Rajouri, Mendhar and Poonch as part of the organisational drive.
Nothing has changed in Poonch’
Bukhari said he was disappointed by what he found during his visit to Poonch, claiming that public infrastructure had deteriorated instead of improving under the elected government.
“To tell you honestly, coming to Poonch made me sad. I thought after two years of a democratic government taking office, a lot would have changed. But I saw what had changed. The roads that were motorable then are no longer even fit to travel on. People who earlier received water now say even the pipes have rusted because there is no water.”
Highlighting the education sector, he said schools continued to face severe staffing imbalances.
“Some schools have seven or two students and seven teachers, while others have 70 students and one teacher. It is something which is pathetic.”
He also accused successive political representatives of neglecting the border district.
“For 76 years, I don’t know whether those who got elected were only in a hurry to reach Jammu or Srinagar and build houses there. They never wanted to return to Poonch.”
Statehood remains Apni Party’s core agenda
Reiterating his party’s political position, Bukhari said restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood remained its foremost demand.”Statehood is our issue. From the day our party was formed, statehood has been our core agenda.”
He said the party had also consistently sought constitutional protection for land and jobs. “Protection of land and jobs was our agenda. We brought domicile certificates, but that was only half done. They gave a 15-year provision. We want 50 years and a constitutional guarantee.”
Rejecting allegations that such demands were separatist, Bukhari said: “I want to assure the people of India that we are not looking for a separate Jammu and Kashmir. We are part of a shared India, in which we are the crown. But we want to preserve our culture, our land and our heritage.”
Explaining the rationale behind a stronger domicile law, he added: “When we say give us a 50-year domicile law, it means our children should get the jobs because we do not have many other avenues.”
Questions Centre over industrial package
Bukhari accused the Centre of failing to generate employment for local youth despite announcing a massive industrial package. “You gave an industrial package of Rs 28,000 crore. Rs 19,500 crore was taken away by outsiders. What did the people of Jammu and Kashmir get?”
He claimed industries were bringing technicians and labourers from outside the Union Territory instead of employing locals.
He also alleged that mining policies had deprived local workers of their livelihoods.”Sand and gravel that earlier cost Rs 1,500 or Rs 2,000 per trolley now cost Rs 12,000. Who extracts it? People from Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.”
Appealing to the government, he said: “Accept royalty from local people. Even today I tell the government, accept royalty from locals instead of forcing contractors into illegal mining.”
He further alleged that large outside contractors were exploiting natural resources.
“For the big contractors brought from outside, rivers and streams are open. They pay a receipt of Rs 2 lakh and extract material worth Rs 2 crore,” he said.
Calls for compensation after Operation Sindoor
On relations with Pakistan, Bukhari said external affairs remained the prerogative of the Government of India.”When, how and with whom talks should be held is the Government of India’s decision.”
However, he said peace between India and Pakistan would benefit Jammu and Kashmir the most.
Referring to those affected by last year’s military operations, he urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to honour commitments made after Operation Sindoor. “After Operation Sindoor, it was promised that bunkers would be built and compensation would be provided to those who suffered losses. Neither full compensation has been given nor have bunkers or community bunkers been built. Fulfil that promise.”
Seeks permanent jobs instead of outsourcing
Bukhari criticised the government’s reliance on outsourced employment. “They themselves say 25,000 jobs have been outsourced. They say the PDP started it. I say if the PDP made a mistake, the National Conference should stop it.”
He suggested replacing outsourced positions with permanent appointments. “Instead of 25,000 outsourced jobs, appoint 12,000 people permanently. These outsourced employees will also be removed after five years, and by then many will be overage.”
Open to giving credit for development
Bukhari said his party had no objection if political rivals took credit for development projects, provided they were completed. “Our complaint is that the projects remain half-finished.”
Referring to the proposed gondola project, he said: “If Shah Mohammad Tantray got the gondola sanctioned, then start the work. Whoever completes it, I will be the first person to publicly welcome them.”
2024 alliance ‘a failed political experiment’
Bukhari admitted that accepting support during the 2024 parliamentary elections had been a mistake. “We accepted their support in the 2024 parliamentary election. We admitted that mistake earlier, and we admit it today.”
He clarified that Apni Party had not formally contested the election in alliance with any party. “We had not fought the election jointly with any party. We only accepted support because both sides had worked for Pahari reservation.”
Describing the outcome, he said: “That political experiment failed. Such failed political experiments are not repeated again and again.”
Demands regularisation of daily wagers
Bukhari also urged the government to immediately regularise daily-wage workers, saying the process required no fresh verification. “There was already a proper format in 2018. Orders simply had to be issued. No verification was required.”
He accused the government of unnecessarily delaying the process. “If they are looking for irregularities, they will find nothing. These daily wagers are already broken. What will you get from people who are already crushed?”
Calling for urgent action, he added:”The government should issue their orders as soon as possible and end the suffering of a large section of people.”
