Srinagar, Aug 4 (UNI) Apni Party (AP) here on Wednesday alleged the traditional parties have been the collaborators in the snatching of special status which incremented trust deficit and further alienate the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
“History bears witness to the facts that how J&K’s political parties have played a collaborators’ role in eroding the Articles 370 from time to time for their lust of power,” Former minister and AP president Syed Mohammad Altaf said in a statement without naming any political party.
Mr Bukhari said that people of J&K do remember how Kashmir based MPs were given an ample opportunity on August 5, 2019 to speak over the necessity of sustaining the special status of J&K but they miserably failed to utter even a single word about it.
The National Conference (NC) has three MPs—Dr Farooq Abdullah, Justice (retd) Hasnain Masoodi and Mohammad Akbar Lone. PDP had also a member in the upper House.“Now today they are shedding crocodile tears and sermonizing on the subject. It’s a shame for them. They should rather confess and apologize to the people for their criminal silence,” he alleged.
Mr Bukhari asked the central government for an early restoration of statehood to J&K so that the people enjoy transparent and accountable governance. He said that people of J&K do not doubt the Prime Minister or Home Minister’s intentions vis-à-vis J&K but it is the vested interests of bureaucratic set-up that is coming in the way of realizing the vision and developmental plans of the government.
He said that Apni Party struggled against a series of executive orders issued from time to time against the interests of J&K people.
“Apni Party ensured that the rights of people of J&K are protected. Be it protection of jobs, initiation of political dialogue, 4-G internet, release of detainees, new industrial policy, geology and mining rights, forest rights, age relaxation for civil services, partial modification in SRO-202, establishing CAT bench in Srinagar, establishing exam centre for AIBE aspirants, interest subvention, freight subsidy on fruits, asset distribution, re-opening of Mughal Road and Kishtwar-Sinthan Top road,” he added.
The former minister said there exists no substitute to the special status to J&K. "But we strongly hope and believe that the Supreme Court which is an abode of justice will reciprocate to the people’s collective demand and deliver justice. Even if the Apex Court’s verdict disregards peoples’ aspirations, AP will have no choice but to chalk out other peaceful means to pursue this goal,” he observed.
Mr Bukhari said AP will put in constant efforts to get an early hearing in the Supreme Court. He said that by now it must have been explicit to everyone that Article 370 was not an impediment in the way of development of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Unfortunately, we have not witnessed any major development taking place in J&K since August 5, 2019 as was projected by the advocates of abrogation of Article 370. Rather, ways of cultural imperialism have been facilitated by the bureaucratic regimes who seem hell-bent to convert our heritage sites into commercial entities like Mubarak Mandi in Jammu,” he alleged.
The former minister said that though there was a need to do away with some gender issues but the way this law was completely annulled was totally unjustified and arbitrary in nature.
UNI BAS PS1505