Only 870 domicile certificates issued to non-locals: Altaf Bukhari

Shopian, Jun 25: Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari on Wednesday dismissed the government's claim that over 83,000 domicile certificates were issued to non-state subjects, calling it propaganda.

“Only 870 people were issued domicile certificates, and they were officers who have stayed here for more than 15 years,” Bukhari told reporters in south Kashmir's Shopian town, on the sidelines of a day-long workers' convention.

He blamed rival parties for spreading misinformation. “This is the same propaganda from those who earlier claimed that 25 lakh additional people were added to the voter list.” The government had informed the House during the Budget session that 83,742 domicile certificates had been issued to non-state subjects.

Criticising the reservation policy, Bukhari called it unjust and said economic status should be the basis for reservation. “What kind of justice is this, where 70 percent of the population gets only 30 percent of the jobs?” he said.  He clarified that his party was not against SC and ST reservation, but argued that only one person per family should benefit from job quotas. "They are even people from SC and ST categories who were not benefited from reservation", Bukhari said.

Asked about reports suggesting a bill to restore Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood may be tabled in the upcoming Parliament session, Bukhari said statehood was the constitutional right of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.  “The Government of India is not doing us a favour by restoring statehood. They had no right to make Ladakh a separate Union Territory. Statehood is a promise made by the Prime Minister in Parliament,” he said. Referring to a recent statement by the Chief Minister offering to step down if statehood is restored, Bukhari said, “If they truly believe giving up the chair will bring statehood back, they should go ahead.

There’s a difference between words and action.” He added that the people of Jammu and Kashmir “did not want their government but the return of full statehood”. On the issue of incarcerated youth, Bukhari said their release was part of his party’s manifesto. “I am committed to my manifesto. It reflects me and my party's faith,” he said. He also alleged an uptick in arrests across the region. “No sooner does a VIP leave Delhi, hundreds of Kashmiri youth are rounded up and detained,” he added.  Prominent among other who accompanied Bukhari  on the occasion included Rafi Ahmad Mir, Dilwar Mir, Abdul Majeed Padroo, Adv Gowhar and Adv Ovais Khan.