Srinagar (NVI): Former Jammu and Kashmir Finance Minister and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader Syed Altaf Bukhari today launched a new political party ‘Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party’ (JKAP) and said his organization will not hesitate to work with New Delhi if it comes to power in the Union Territory.
Those who joined Bukhari’s party include- Dilawar Mir, Noor Mohd Sheikh, Yawar Mir, Zafar Iqbal Manhas, Ashraf Mir from PDP.Usman Majeed, Aijaz Khan, Mumtaz Khan and Shoaib Nabi Lone from Congress; Vijay Bakaya, Syed Asgar Ali and Kamal Arora from NC.
Addressing media at his Srinagar residence, Bukhari said he launched his own political party to fill the political void which has been created after abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of the state into two Union Territories.
“Though unpleasant and bitter, it is an undeniable reality that the developments which took place in August 2019, particularly the deprivation of statehood have badly affected the self-esteem, pride and confidence of the people across Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.
Bukhari further said his party is “of the commoners, by the commoners and for the commoners”.
He said that post August situation has resulted into a complete breakdown of the political institutions in J&K.
“People of J&K have every reason and right to conceive and envision every shade and aspect of a fully developed and civilized democratic society where they can live in harmony and peace,” Bukhari added.
He said that the present circumstances warranted formation of a new political party comprising of those who all along had identified and related themselves to the social needs of multiple strata and factions of our society.
“A party that can respond to national aspirations of people without promising them stars. We are not here to sell dreams to our people and instead shall always be pragmatic, honest and fair in our approach,” he added.
Altaf Bukhari said that his party’s core agenda is to demand restoration of statehood, domicile rights on land, dignified return of Kashmir pandits and jobs, besides a holistic and an equitable development of all the regions and sub regions of Jammu and Kashmir.
When we talk about Union Teritory, a ruling party has to deal with New Delhi. We don’t look New Delhi through the prism of who is ruling,” he said.
The announcement of the party comes at the time when three former chief ministers- Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti are under detention. Besides them, many mainstream politicians including former ministers are under detention since August 5, 2019.
