SRINAGAR: Apni Party president Syed Muhammad Altaf Bukhari on Thursday said he would “welcome” the National Conference from Lakhanpur if it manages to secure restoration of statehood through its proposed protest at Jantar Mantar, as he confirmed receiving an invitation from the party for the event.
“If they get it at Jantar Mantar, then I will welcome them from Lakhanpur,” Altaf Bukhari said.
Altaf Bukhari, however, asserted that major political decisions should be taken through consultation and not announced unilaterally.
“It is not that someone is waiting for an invitation. But if there was consultation, then there would have been a consensus decision as to what needs to be done. When the decision was made, we heard it through the press,” he said.
The Apni Party chief said the envelope containing the invite was yet to be opened. “We have not opened it yet. We have just received a sealed letter from them. Our party will sit down in an hour. The senior leadership will come and we will see. Some things are very clear,” he added.
Reiterating his party’s core agenda, Apni Party chief said restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir remained the primary objective. “Our party and Altaf Bukhari’s core agenda is to return to the statehood,” he asserted.
He said that the decision should have been made through consultation. “If the decision had been made through consultation, then we would have done it. But we have called for a meeting. We believe that Dr Farooq is the biggest leader. But to say that we have made the decision and will tell the rest, that is not the case,” he said.
Wishing the NC well, Altaf Bukhari said his party would welcome any outcome that restores statehood. “We wish them all the best. We have also announced that may Allah bless them. I have not seen the statehood being sold in the Makkah market in Lal Chowk,” he added.
Altaf Bukhari had earlier said the strategy for statehood should be evolved collectively and not unilaterally. (KNS)
