SRINAGAR: Apni Party president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Sunday urged residents of Srinagar’s Shehr-e-Khaas to become aware of their democratic rights and work towards improving the city’s socio-economic and developmental conditions.
Addressing a workers’ convention at Habba Kadal, Bukhari said people should not continue to support political forces that, according to him, had failed to address the city’s longstanding problems despite receiving their mandate for decades.
He said Srinagar, despite being a historic city with around nine lakh residents, continues to face shortages in basic amenities, housing and livelihood opportunities, while a large section of educated youth remains unemployed.
“Why don’t you understand this simple fact? Despite remaining in power for decades, this party allowed the city to remain in such a pathetic condition and, even worse, damaged its natural infrastructure,” Bukhari said, referring to the National Conference.
He cited the filling up of Nallah Mar as an example, saying the historic waterway had connected Dal Lake and Brari Nambal with the Jhelum and Anchar Lake. He said its disappearance had affected Srinagar’s natural drainage system and resulted in the loss of an important part of the city’s heritage.
Bukhari also raised concerns over employment opportunities for local youth and criticised the prevailing reservation policy, claiming it had further reduced opportunities for residents of the city.
He said the difficult economic conditions were also affecting families and their ability to meet basic needs, including housing and marriage-related expenses.
“We must seriously think about how to change this pathetic situation. The first step is for the people to distance themselves from the political forces that have kept them in this condition despite receiving their support for decades,” he said.
Bukhari also made an appeal to Kashmiri Pandits to return to the Valley, recalling the period when Muslims and Pandits lived together and shared social and cultural bonds.
“I urge my Kashmiri Pandit brethren to return so that, together, we can rediscover the past glory of our beautiful shared culture and work towards restoring peace, prosperity, and harmony,” he said.
He urged residents to exercise their franchise carefully in the forthcoming urban local body elections and elect representatives capable of addressing the city’s developmental concerns.
Bukhari also sought public support for Apni Party, saying the party would work towards implementing its manifesto and ensuring development in Srinagar.
Former Cabinet Minister and Apni Party senior vice president Ghulam Hassan Mir said inadequate housing, limited livelihood opportunities and a lack of developmental infrastructure were among the major issues confronting Srinagar residents.
Mir alleged that people were facing difficulties in constructing houses and commercial establishments on their own land because of restrictions imposed by the Srinagar Municipal Corporation.
He also highlighted employment-related difficulties faced by youth, including problems associated with verification for jobs and passports.
“These people have placed their trust in you, given you their mandate, and voted you to power. How can a government refuse to address the issues and concerns of the very people who elected it?” Mir said.
Apni Party provincial president Mohammad Ashraf Mir urged residents to strengthen the party, saying it was not controlled by a particular family or individual.
He said the party’s agenda was centred on peace, prosperity and development in Jammu and Kashmir.
Several senior party leaders and workers attended the convention, including Haji Mohammad Syed Akhoon, Muntazir Mohiudin, Zaffar Habib, Malik Aftab, Peer Wajahat, Jeelani Hamid Kumar, Aamir Ashraf Bhat, Aijaz Rather, Mohammad Shafi Mir, Mohsin Zaffar Shah and Jibran Dar, among others.
