News Analysis India

Tag: Apni Party

  • J&K’s Apni Party slammed for ‘forcibly gathering’ people for stadium rally

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: Apni Party was slammed by the local political parties on Saturday for “forcibly gathering” people for its rally in a stadium here after videos on social media showed the crowd leaving the venue while the event was still on.

    Reacting to the videos, Democratic Azad Party leader Salman Nizami alleged that the people were “forcibly gathered in the stadium as if they were prisoners.”

    Massive support of people of #Kashmir Valley for Apni Party.Our agenda for restoration of statehood, better job opportunities for the youth, justice for daily wagers, legal recourse for restoration of Article 35-A and 370 gets endorsed by the people. pic.twitter.com/kU5SPGlJn9
    — J&K Apni Party (@Apnipartyonline) November 12, 2022
    “By managing gatherings of people with money, they cannot win the hearts of people and will spoil the future of youngsters,” he said.

    Nizami said if people were “forced” to attend a rally, then how could the party claim it was a political rally.

    “It clearly shows the rally was sponsored by BJP,” said Nizami, who in September this year defected from Congress to join DAP, launched by Ghulam Nabi Azad.

    “These money-power leaders only need chairs for their luxurious life but not for benefit of the people of Kashmir. Now, democracy by the people, for the people, has now changed into Democracy by the money, for the money, and of the money,” he said.

    National Conference alleged that people were lured with food to the rally, which ended in chaos.

    “What the hell is going on? Why would you cage people when they want to leave? They are saying they were invited for food and tea. Anyway, seems like the event ended in absolute chaos for Apni Party,” the party’s social media cell chief Sarah Hayat Shah said on Twitter.

    Central influence into J&K politics time & again proved disastrous & ultimately undermined public confidence into democratic institutions & values.Aed dæd yetshi te Aed dæd retshi = Half r burnt with their choice & half r burnt by being driven into it#SayNoToExpatriatePolitics https://t.co/55MXYbJmYR
    — Peerzada Faroz Ahmad (@PeerzadaFaroz) November 12, 2022
    The Apni Party rally which initially saw a good turnout, failed to hold people’s interest, as many began to leave the venue even while party president Altaf Bukhari was addressing it.

    Many party leaders were reportedly seen trying to convince the crowd to stay back as they left in droves.

    SRINAGAR: Apni Party was slammed by the local political parties on Saturday for “forcibly gathering” people for its rally in a stadium here after videos on social media showed the crowd leaving the venue while the event was still on.

    Reacting to the videos, Democratic Azad Party leader Salman Nizami alleged that the people were “forcibly gathered in the stadium as if they were prisoners.”

    Massive support of people of #Kashmir Valley for Apni Party.
    Our agenda for restoration of statehood, better job opportunities for the youth, justice for daily wagers, legal recourse for restoration of Article 35-A and 370 gets endorsed by the people. pic.twitter.com/kU5SPGlJn9
    — J&K Apni Party (@Apnipartyonline) November 12, 2022
    “By managing gatherings of people with money, they cannot win the hearts of people and will spoil the future of youngsters,” he said.

    Nizami said if people were “forced” to attend a rally, then how could the party claim it was a political rally.

    “It clearly shows the rally was sponsored by BJP,” said Nizami, who in September this year defected from Congress to join DAP, launched by Ghulam Nabi Azad.

    “These money-power leaders only need chairs for their luxurious life but not for benefit of the people of Kashmir. Now, democracy by the people, for the people, has now changed into Democracy by the money, for the money, and of the money,” he said.

    National Conference alleged that people were lured with food to the rally, which ended in chaos.

    “What the hell is going on? Why would you cage people when they want to leave? They are saying they were invited for food and tea. Anyway, seems like the event ended in absolute chaos for Apni Party,” the party’s social media cell chief Sarah Hayat Shah said on Twitter.

    Central influence into J&K politics time & again proved disastrous & ultimately undermined public confidence into democratic institutions & values.
    Aed dæd yetshi te Aed dæd retshi = Half r burnt with their choice & half r burnt by being driven into it#SayNoToExpatriatePolitics https://t.co/55MXYbJmYR
    — Peerzada Faroz Ahmad (@PeerzadaFaroz) November 12, 2022
    The Apni Party rally which initially saw a good turnout, failed to hold people’s interest, as many began to leave the venue even while party president Altaf Bukhari was addressing it.

    Many party leaders were reportedly seen trying to convince the crowd to stay back as they left in droves.

  • We want to make Jammu and Kashmir a model state: Apni Party President Altaf Bukhari

    By PTI

    JAMMU: Condemning the divisive elements in society creating differences among the people, Apni Party President Altaf Bukhari on Sunday said his party wants to make Jammu and Kashmir a model state with respect to its culture, development and communal harmony.

    He claimed that the traditional parties like the BJP, Congress, National Conference and PDP have always played divisive politics to garner votes from the people. Asserting that playing politics on communal and regional approach is dangerous for Jammu and Kashmir, Bukhari said his party stands against such elements.

    “The regional and communal politics have no place in the Apni Party as we believe in unity and equitable development of all regions. We are committed to develop backward areas equally with other areas of J&K,” the former minister said, addressing a public meeting at Domana in the outskirts of Jammu.

    He alleged that it was due to the divisive agenda pursued by the BJP, Congress, NC and PDP that the peace remained disturbed for long. “However, we will not allow anti-peace elements to flourish again,” he said, adding “the unnecessary division was created among the people by these traditional political parties to gain votes in elections”.

    He said that they will not be able to create further divide among the people as both the regions have the same demands -restoration of Statehood, holding of assembly elections and protection of land and jobs for locals.

  • Apni Party demands rollback of changes in Jammu and Kashmir land use policy

    By PTI

    JAMMU: Taking strong exception to recent changes in the land use laws announced by the Jammu and Kashmir administration, Apni Party president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Saturday demanded immediate rollback of the decision, saying it is “loaded with far-reaching consequences”

    The agricultural land in Jammu and Kashmir is supposed to be safeguarded by the government against any kind of fiddling with its land use status, he said, alleging that arbitrary decisions like the recent one would result in increased alienation of people.

    “Such policy decisions are the prerogative of an elected government, and the present dispensation should desist from taking such unilateral moves that put a question mark on its mandate,” Bukhari said.

    In view of assurances given by the Centre from time to time, and in light of directions of the Supreme Court and the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir, no permission should be granted for conversion of agricultural land to non-agricultural purposes especially for non-domiciles of Jammu & Kashmir.

    “The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir has also barred the conversion of agricultural land in Jammu & Kashmir in view of the fast shrinking agricultural land mass and its repercussions on overall crop production that has witnessed a drastic fall over the years,” he said.

    The former minister said the latest decision on land use policy would open floodgates for non-agricultural activities and will further increase the dependency of the people of Jammu and Kashmir on import of foodgrains.

  • Apni Party chief Altaf Bukhari’s father Syed Mohammad Iqbal Bukhari passes away

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari’s father Syed Mohammad Iqbal Bukhari passed away here on Sunday, family sources said.

    He was 89.

    Bukhari, the chairman of FIL Industries, passed away after a brief spell of illness at SKIMS hospital, Soura, they said.

    Bukhari’s funeral prayers will be held at Ladoora in Rafiabad area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla Sunday evening.

    Bukhari, a prominent businessman, was believed to have been close to PDP founder and former chief minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.

    He played an important role in bringing down the Farooq Abdullah-led National Conference (NC) government in 1984.

    His son Altaf Bukhari entered into the political fray by joining the PDP and was elected as an MLA from Amira Kadal in 2014.

    He became a minister in the PDP-BJP government.

    He then floated Apni Party last year.

    Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed condolences over Bukhari’s demise.

    “My deepest condolences to Shri Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari Sahib on the sad demise of his father Shri Syed Mohammad Iqbal Bukhari. In this time of grief, I pray to the Almighty to bestow strength upon the family to bear this irreparable loss,” he said on Twitter.

    Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference president Sajad Gani Lone also condoled Bukhari’s demise.

    He prayed for peace to the departed soul and strength to his loved ones in this hour of loss and grief.

    “Heartfelt condolences on the passing away of Syed Iqbal sahib, father of Mr Altaf Bukhari. I knew Iqbal sahib as a dear friend of my late father. May Allah grant him Jannat,” Lone said in his condolence message.

  • 70 years of ‘deceitful politics’ ruined Jammu and Kashmir: Apni Party leader Altaf Bukhari

    By PTI

    JAMMU: In a scathing attack on the rulers of the past in Jammu and Kashmir, Apni Party president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Tuesday said the 70 years of “deceitful politics” ruined the erstwhile state.

    Bukhari, a former minister who is currently on a tour of the Chenab Valley region, was speaking at a party convention at Thathri in Doda district.

    “For the last over 70 years, the people of Jammu and Kashmir, especially the youth, have been duped by deceitful politics which needs to be done away with.

    “It is extremely unfortunate that the political parties in Jammu and Kashmir have been raising passions among the people just to fulfil their electoral motives.

    And, this type of politics has hugely shadowed the socio-economic and political stability in the region,” he said.

    Without naming anyone but apparently referring to the National Conference (NC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bukhari claimed that the compromises made by the local political parties not only cost the people dearly but also ignited a vicious cycle of violence and insecurity for them.

    “Such dirty politics has not only resulted in the loss of precious lives but also has inflicted huge economic losses that have proven detrimental to the development and progress in Jammu and Kashmir,” the Apni Party leader said.

    Pledging to continue with his efforts to strengthen a truthful political atmosphere, Bukhari said his party has emerged as a “credible political voice” of Jammu and Kashmir that has been established on the edifice of transparency, probity and pragmatic politics.

    Meanwhile, over a dozen socio-political activists joined the party on the occasion, a party spokesperson said.

  • Create environment for free participation of political parties: Ex-Jammu & Kashmir MLA to government

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: Former minister and Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari on Monday asked the government to create an atmosphere conducive for parties to freely participate in the political process.

    “As the political process is going to be started, an environment should be created so that people from every political party operating here move freely, convey their message freely so that people at the grassroots participate in the political process,” Bukhari told a press conference here.

    The Apni Party chief expressed optimism that the Centre will restore Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood. “I am optimistic that the government of India will restore it. It is committed to Parliament, it is committed to the people of J-K, it is committed to us as Apni Party,” he said.

    Bukhari criticised the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) wondering if it has forgotten its promises with the people. “The PAGD attended two meetings – the all-party meeting with the PM and the opposition parties’ meet. Did you see any word on Article 370?” he said, adding, it indicates the alliance has given up on its basic agenda.

    He assured the people his party is committed to whatever it has promised. The Apni Party president also demanded swift action against those involved in corruption, and said the government must start the process from the political class.

  • Two days after BJP activists’s murder, Apni Party leader shot dead by terrorists in J&K

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: Terrorists Thursday shot dead a Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party leader in Kulgam, officials said here.

    Ghulam Hassan Lone was shot at by the ultras in his native Devsar area, they said, adding he was rushed to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

    Police said they have taken cognisance of the incident.

    This comes just two days after terrorists shot dead BJP leader Javeed Ahmad Dar in the same district.

    Before that, two Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists on August 9 barged into the house of a BJP sarpanch in Anantnag district and killed him and his wife.

    Lone’s killing also evoked widespread condemnation from mainstream political parties including the PDP, the National Conference and the People’s Conference.

    “Unfortunately there seems to be no end to the spree of political killings in Kashmir. Unreservedly condemn the killing of Apni party leader Ghulam Hassan Lone. My deepest condolences to the bereaved family,” PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti tweeted.

    National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah said the “renewed trend” of militants targeting mainstream leaders is “very worrying”.

    “Very sorry to hear about the assassination of Ghulam Hassan Lone in Devsar area of South Kashmir. This renewed trend of targeting mainstream politicians by militant outfits is very worrying & I condemn the same in the strongest possible terms. May Allah grant the departed Jannat,” Abdullah tweeted.

    People’s Conference chairman Sajad Gani Lone said, “Strongly condemn the killing of @Apnipartyonline leader Ghulam Hassan Lone in Kulgam.

    Recent spate of attacks on mainstream leaders is worrying.

    “Violence only brings miseries to people. Such killings only create more widows and orphans. These heinous acts must cease,” he added.

  • PM’s J&K all-party meet will facilitate commencement of political process in UT: Apni Party

    By PTI
    SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party has hailed the political outreach of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and hoped that the June 24 all-party meet will facilitate commencement of a political process in the union territory that will lead to genuine empowerment of its people.

    The party headed by Altaf Bukhari also demanded that concrete confidence building measures be taken by the Centre to address woes of the people of J-K.

    The party held a meeting on Monday in which the leaders “hailed the political outreach of the prime minister and hoped that the June 24 meeting will facilitate commencement of a political process in Jammu and Kashmir that will eventually pave the way for genuine empowerment of its people”.

    Party general secretary Rafi Ahmad Mir on Tuesday said Bukhari has been authorised by the party to “represent the wishes and aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir in the meeting.

    ALSO READ | J&K’s Gupkar alliance to attend Centre’s all-party meeting, pitch for Article 370 restoration

  • Seven Assembly seats to be added in Jammu & Kashmir: Apni Party leader Ghulam Hassan Mir

    Express News Service
    SRI NAGAR: As Delimitation Commission started the delimitation exercise in Jammu and Kashmir, a senior Apni Party leader said of the seven seats that will be added in the UT, four will be in the Valley and three in Jammu. 

    Sources said that the Delimitation Commission has written to all 20 Deputy Commissioners of J&K and asked them to share data of electorate and composition of districts and Assembly constituencies.

    The exercise is being carried out as per 2011 Census.  According to 2011 census, Kashmir’s population was 68,88,475 and Jammu’s population was 53,78,538. At present J&K Assembly has 83 seats – 47 in Kashmir and 36 in Jammu region.

    Senior vice-president of Apni Party Ghulam Hassan Mir said the total number of seats in the  Assembly would increase from 83 to 90. Of the seven seats that will increase after delimitation, four will be in Valley and three in Jammu, he said.

    A senior J&K BJP leader said there should be a “balanced” process. “It should be ensured that all constituencies get equitable number of voters. At present, in some seats there are a few thousand voters, while in my constituency in Jammu, the voters are over one lakh,” he said.

    However, chairman of Jammu-based IkkJutt Jammu, Advocate Ankur Sharma said carrying out delimitation on basis of 2011 census will only consolidate “Muslim hegemony” and perpetuate J&K as a Muslim domain apart from rest of India.

  • Greener pastures, new parties lure PDP leaders

    Express News Service
    SRINAGAR:  The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which had emerged as a strong political force in Jammu and Kashmir after its launch in 1998, has been considerably weakened by defections. While PDP chief and former CM Mehbooba Mufti was under detention after scrapping of Article 370, several leaders quit the PDP to join the Apni Party. The majority of leaders in the Apni Party, which was floated in March last year and is said to have tacit support of BJP, came from PDP including its founder Altaf Bukhari. The desertions started after the fall of PDP-BJP coalition government in June 2018. 

    The first to rebel was influential Shia leader and former minister Imran Ansari. He accused Mufti of turning the party into a family fiefdom. Later, Mufti’s close aide and former MLA Peerzada Mansoor, who was booked twice under PSA after his detention following Article 370 scrapping, senior leader Khurshid Alam , founding member and former MP Muzaffar Baig and his wife Safina Baig quit the party to join Peoples Conference.

    Out of the 28 MLAs elected on PDP ticket to J&K Assembly in 2014, 18 have quit the party since the fall of PDP-BJP government. PDP leaders blame the Centre and J&K government for weakening the party in view of its stand on Article 370 revocation. Senior PDP leader Firdous Ahmed Tak said, “Some got unnerved by seeing greener pastures on the other side. But in the majority of cases, PDP leaders are being targeted.”