SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Wednesday urged young people to take a more active role in the region’s political affairs, saying the focus of governance should remain on employment, healthcare, electricity, drinking water and accountability.
Bukhari was speaking to reporters after a joining programme at the party headquarters in Gandhi Nagar, Jammu, where former NSUI joint secretary Tavleen Singh joined the Apni Party along with nearly 200 youths and around 100 prominent citizens from Arnia.
The programme was organised by Apni Party Jammu provincial president S Manjit Singh.
Welcoming the new entrants, Bukhari said young people should not remain spectators in political affairs.
“You have to bring the change. Until you bring the change, the politics of Jammu and Kashmir will also not improve,” he said.
He said those joining the party had been provided a political platform to work for the people rather than serve any individual or family.
“This is a party of the people, for the people,” Bukhari said, urging the new members to remain connected with their respective communities.
Bukhari said political parties should focus on issues that directly affect people’s daily lives instead of making unrealistic promises.
“We don’t ask for the moon and stars. We ask for the necessities of life,” he said, listing healthcare, employment, drinking water and electricity among the basic needs of people.
On unemployment, he said Jammu and Kashmir had a large pool of educated young people seeking opportunities and maintained that employment and livelihood generation should remain among the foremost priorities of the government.
Bukhari also questioned electricity charges, saying that while Jammu and Kashmir contributes power to the northern grid, consumers within the region continue to face a financial burden. He also questioned the gap between announcements about tap-water connections and the actual availability of drinking water in several areas.
On the ongoing strike by National Health Mission employees over remuneration, Bukhari described their demand as legitimate and urged the administration to address their grievances.
He called upon Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, as head of the administration, to take serious note of problems in the health sector and initiate corrective measures.
Bukhari also cited healthcare deficiencies in remote areas. Referring to Bani, he said he had been informed that the sub-district hospital had been without a gynaecologist for nearly a decade, forcing women to travel long distances for childbirth and specialised care.
He also claimed that a sonography machine was lying unused at a hospital because of the absence of a trained operator.
“Healthcare is a universal right,” he said, stressing that people living in remote and hilly areas should have access to essential medical services closer to home.
He also questioned the functioning of Rajouri Medical College, alleging that many patients continued to be referred to Government Medical College Jammu.
Bukhari questioned the purpose of having specialised medical institutions if patients were still being referred elsewhere for treatment.
He also criticised the BJP over its claims regarding AIIMS Vijaypur, saying questions needed to be asked when patients from the area were allegedly being referred to GMC Jammu.
On restoration of statehood, Bukhari said the issue should be pursued through dialogue and persuasion rather than confrontation.
“There is no other way,” he said, arguing that the political leadership should put forward a reasoned case before the Union government.
He said Jammu and Kashmir had a long historical and constitutional association with the Indian Union and maintained that the demand for statehood should be pursued through democratic engagement.
On a proposed all-party meeting, Bukhari said such discussions should focus on issues affecting employees, students, healthcare workers and the wider public.
He also urged caution over policies that could add to the financial burden on employees, students and other sections.
Asked about criticism that the Apni Party was a “B team” of the BJP because of its engagement with the Union government, Bukhari rejected the allegation.
He said political leaders from Jammu and Kashmir had the right to meet the Prime Minister and other Union leaders to place people’s concerns before them.
According to Bukhari, engagement with the Union government was part of democratic politics and should not automatically be portrayed as political subservience.
He also rejected allegations that the Apni Party was controlled by a political family, saying its strength lay with its workers and supporters.
On reservation, Bukhari said the issue required detailed discussion rather than political statements. He questioned whether the benefits of reservation were reaching those who needed them or remaining concentrated among certain families and individuals.
Bukhari also appealed to people to move beyond politics based on religion and regional divisions.
He said, according to him, people in Jammu had been mobilised in the name of religion while those in Kashmir had been mobilised in the name of region.
He called for greater focus on common concerns across Jammu and Kashmir, particularly employment, healthcare, electricity, drinking water, development and accountable governance.
On speculation about possible changes within the National Conference, Bukhari said the internal affairs of another political party were for that party to decide.
He said political differences should be pursued through democratic means and maintained that opposition to a government should not mean opposition to democratic institutions.
Earlier, Tavleen Singh said he decided to join the Apni Party because of what he described as its willingness to speak openly about issues confronting the people.
Manjit Singh welcomed the new entrants and said the party would continue its grassroots outreach and provide a platform to people willing to work for the welfare and development of Jammu and Kashmir.
Former MLA and senior vice president Faqir Nath, Kissan Wing president Badri Nath Sharma, Provincial Secretary Ajaz Kazmi, SC Wing president Bodh Raj Bhagat, Arun Chibber, Women Wing president Pavneet Kour, Youth President Vishal Singh Naryania and other party leaders were present at the programme.
