Srinagar, Aug 4 (KINS ) Alleging that Augst 5, 2019 decision incremented trust deficit and further alienate people, Apni Party (AP) said those who are shedding crocodile tears now have been collaborators in dilution of Article 370 and 35 A.
AP is committed to protection of people’s right, former minister and AP president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said in a statement Wednesday afternoon.
He said that the Abrogation of Articles 370 and 35-A did not only snatch the special status of Jammu and Kashmir but also incremented the trust deficit and sense of alienation among the people to an exponential level.
He said that J&K’s special status was enshrined within Indian Constitution while the unprecedented way it was revoked, did profoundly hurt the sentiments of the people of who continue to feel politically disempowered.
“There exists no substitute to the special status to J&K. But we strongly hope and believe that the Supreme Court of India which is an abode of justice will reciprocate to the people’s collective demand and deliver justice. God forbid, 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 with New Delhi,” he observed.
Bukhari said AP will put in constant efforts to get an early hearing in the Supreme Court petition on the subject. “We believe that the solution to the socio-economic and political problems faced by the people in J&K lies with New Delhi so it will be unwise to disengage or dissociate ourselves from pursuing the redressal.”
Bukhari said that by now it must have been explicit to everyone in New Delhi 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 added.
Former minister Bukhari said that though there was a need to do away with some gender issues in Article 35-A but the way this law was completely annulled was totally unjustified and arbitrary in nature.
Blaming traditional political parties for their policies of deceit and intrigue , Bukhari said that it is not the BJP alone but other political parties who have been pivotal in doing away with the special status of J&K. “History bears witness to the facts that how J&K’s political parties have played a collaborators’ role in eroding the Articles 370 & 35-A from time to time for their lust of power,” AP President said without naming the political parties.
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. However, Bukhari did not mention the National Conference (NC) which 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 said.
Furthermore, Bukhari beseeched 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 of India.
“Time has proven that the bureaucratic setup can never be a plausible substitute to the elected form of government. It is an elected government that can feel the pulse and take measures to resolve the public grievances in a time bound manner,” he exuded.
Pledging to continue with its efforts to safeguard the interests and rights of the people of J&K, Bukhari said that Apni Party pursued and ensured that there was no encroachment on the rights of the people on their jobs and the land.
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.( SOURCE UNI)
