SRINAGAR: Senior political leader Syed Mohammad Akhoon on Saturday led a group of social and political activists and workers, including an NC block president, into the Apni Party, in a fresh expansion of the party’s presence in Srinagar.
The new entrants, mainly from the Hazratbal and Zadibal constituencies, joined the Apni Party along with their respective teams at a function held at the party headquarters in Srinagar.
Apni Party president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari and senior party leaders welcomed the new members and assured them of opportunities to participate in public service and political activities in their respective areas.
Among those who joined the party were Suhail Ahmad Wani, Tufail Hussain Zaildar, Aijaz Ahmed Bakka, Adil Chikla, Waseem Dar, Tanveer Qazi, NC Block President Dargah Hazratbal Majid Ahmed Pathan, Waseem Chikla, Osama Jan, Raja Dar, Sameer Baba, Shoaib Pandith, Murtaza Bhat, Idrees Baba, Bilal Ahmad Sodagar, Shabir Ahmad Sofi, Rayees Ahmed Wani, Kounsar Ahmed Dar, Hashim Mir and Sarwar Ahmed Shah.
Speaking on the occasion, Akhoon, who said he had spent decades in the National Conference before leaving it, described his decision to join the Apni Party as a consequence of what he termed the lack of space for leaders and workers to express themselves freely in the traditional political party.
“After spending decades in the National Conference, I came to realise that a leader or a worker has very little say in that traditional political party,” Akhoon said.
He alleged that there was little room for straightforward expression of views within the NC and said this was among the reasons he eventually parted ways with the party.
Akhoon contrasted the NC’s political culture with that of the Apni Party, saying leaders and workers in the latter were given greater importance and encouraged to express their views and participate in public service.
He attributed this, in part, to the leadership of Altaf Bukhari, whom he described as having a clear mission to serve the people.
“Apni Party does not belong to any particular family or dynasty; it belongs to the people and is committed to providing a platform where everyone can contribute to public service,” Akhoon said.
Apni Party General Secretary Rafi Ahmed Mir welcomed the new entrants, particularly the young people from Srinagar, and said their arrival would strengthen the party’s organisational presence in the city.
“Srinagar is the heart of Kashmir, and it gives me immense pleasure to see people, especially the youth, joining us,” Mir said, adding that he looked forward to their active participation in the party’s efforts to serve the people.
He said the new entrants would bring “new energy and dynamism” to the party’s activities in Srinagar.
Apni Party Kashmir Provincial President Mohammad Ashraf Mir also welcomed the new members and said the party would work with them to address challenges confronting the youth.
He accused traditional political parties of failing to adequately address issues relating to unemployment and political participation.
“Our youth are facing a number of serious challenges, and unfortunately, the traditional political parties have failed to adequately address their concerns over the years,” Ashraf Mir said.
He said young people were struggling with limited employment opportunities and were not being provided adequate space to participate in politics and decision-making.
District Srinagar president Zaffar Habib said the new members had become an “integral part” of the party and assured them of the leadership’s support in their efforts to raise public issues.
The induction comes as the Apni Party continues to expand its organisational base in Srinagar through the entry of local political workers and activists.
Besides Bukhari, Rafi Ahmed Mir, Ashraf Mir and Akhoon, those present at the function included Chief Spokesperson and State Secretary Muntazir Mohiuddin, District President Kupwara Raja Manzoor, District President Ganderbal Javaid Mir, Provincial Secretaries Malik Aftab and Mohammad Saleem Lone, Publicity Secretary Muzafar Reshi, Provincial Coordinator Shabir Ahmad Reshi, Organising Secretary Mohammad Yusuf Sofi, Provincial Joint Secretary Aamir Ashraf Bhat and constituency in-charges Jeelani Hamid Kumar, Tehseen Farooq and Mohammad Sidiq Mir, among others.
