Jammu deeply disappointed with present Govt, BJP: Altaf Bukhari

Jammu, Nov 26: Apni Party President Altaf Bukhari Sunday, taking a dig at the present ruling dispensation, alleged that the government in Jammu and Kashmir “brought misery for the people of Jammu with no development and grab of resources by outsiders.”

“Jammu is deeply disappointed with the present government and the BJP in particular as it failed to deliver what it had promised before the abrogation of special status from Jammu and Kashmir,” Bukhari said addressing a one-day convention organised at Ratnu Chak in Jammu.

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

“The local population feels cheated because the liquor and contractors’ mafia is actively working with support from the officials,” Bukhari said. “These officials have also been imported to J&K even as they do not know the ground reality, and these government officers also have no connection with the population.”
He said: “J&K never witnessed such a situation in the past where the local population has been completely sidelined and outsiders were encouraged in government as well as the private sector.”

Bukhari said that the aspirants of various government jobs were still protesting against the scams in the recruitment process for various posts, but their demands remained unaddressed.

“There is no accountability of the government officials. This is happening because there is no elected government 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 government,” he said.
Bukhari said that statehood to J&K should be restored, and assembly elections must be held without delay because anger was brewing among the people against the government that needed to be addressed by restoring the democratic system.

He said that the government had 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 government 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 government hospitals, educational institutes, road infrastructure etc,” he said.

Bukhari promised that if the Apni Party came to power, it would recruit 6000 doctors, and fill up vacant posts of teachers, lecturers and professors in government 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 a priority basis, if we form the next government,” he said, while criticising the government that, he alleged, had “failed to end the underdevelopment, and address employment issues in Jammu.”

Bukhari also assured that the doctors and paramedical staff for AIIMS Jammu (Vijaypur) would be recruited from Jammu, not from outside.
Meanwhile, he expressed concern over the emerging security situation in Rajouri-Poonch where the terror-related incidents had happened.

However, Bukhari appreciated the local population living along the International Border (IB) and the Line of Control (LoC) for bravely facing the enemies and helping the defence forces in protecting the nation’s internal security.

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.

Bukhari said that the party would regularise the land if it came to power.

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

As a mark of respect, Bukhari offered heartfelt tributes to the victims of 26/11 during the convention, while emphasising unity and resilience.
Bukhari welcomed Vishal Nariana, a prominent businessman, and his supporters into the party fold and expressed hope that their joining would strengthen the party in Jammu.

Apni Party senior vice president Ghulam Hassan Mir, vice president Choudhary Zulfkar Ali and provincial president Jammu Manjit Singh also spoke on the occasion.