Will ensure restoration of statehood, release of prisoners, removal of AFSPA: Altaf Bukhari

Srinagar, May 9: Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari today said that when elected to power in assembly polls his party will ensure restoration of statehood, release of prisoners and removal of AFSPA.

He also alleged that the hands of dynastic politicians are stained with blood of innocents. Bukhari was addressing a series of rallies and other public outreach activities in Budgam district.

At public rallies in Astanpora Chadoora, Pakharpora, and Charar-i-Sharief, the party president and his accompanying leaders received a warm welcome from locals and party functionaries.

During his daylong visit to these places, paid obeisance at Ziyarat-i-Sharief Sheikh- ul- Aalam (RA) in Charar-e-Sharief, as well as Ziyarat-i-Sharief Hazrat Sultan Syed Mohammad Ali Aali Bulkhi Sahib (RA) Pakherpora.

While addressing the rallies, Bukhari urged people not to fall prey to deceptive narratives and fake promises made by traditional parties, especially the family parties, in the Lok Sabha polls.

He said, “Let me remind you that the hands of these dynastic politicians are stained with the blood of innocent people, including children. One of these parties is responsible for the killing of 200 children in 2010, and the other party is responsible for more than a hundred deaths and the blinding of hundreds of young boys and girls through the use of pellet guns in 2016. The leader of this party even tried to justify the innocent killing by heartlessly remarking, ‘Kiya ye bachay chocolates aur doodh lene niklay thay’ (Had these children come out of their homes to fetch chocolates and milk for themselves).”

Bukhari alleged that these parties consistently allure you with fake promises and misleading narratives. “Once again, they are approaching you with emotionally charged slogans and false promises seeking your votes. You should not fall prey to their political gimmicks once again. It's crucial not to forget that hundreds of innocent people have been killed under the tenure of these family-based parties over the years,” he added.

The Apni Party President said that in 2019, these parties came to you seeking your vote and promised that their elected leaders would protect Article 370 in Parliament.” You trusted them and elected three MPs from one of these parties, while the other had its two members in the Rajya Sabha. However, when Article 370 was abrogated on August 5, 2019, these MPs remained silent. At the very least, they should have resigned in protest of the abrogation of Article 370,”he said.

“Setting aside all other considerations, if the sitting MP Farooq Abdullah manages to secure the release of only 50 jailed youth, I will urge my candidate to withdraw from the elections to make way for the NC candidate in these Lok Sabha polls. These parties have accomplished nothing during their five-year terms. Why should people vote for them again,” he asked.

Bukhari promised that "when the Apni Party gets the public mandate to serve, it will ensure the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's statehood, release of prisoners from jails, removal of AFSPA, and the return of Armed Forces to the barracks."

“We are committed to ensuring the political and economic empowerment of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Apni Party's government will ensure that all the rights guaranteed by the constitution of the country are restored to the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.