“Statehood not a ‘biryani distribution’ exercise, outsourcing row is not a political fight between NC and PDP but a question of the future, aspirations and employment prospects of Jammu and Kashmir’s youth”
Tauseef Ahmad
Bandipora, June 25: Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari on Thursday said the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir should not be reduced to a political slogan, asserting that while statehood is likely to be restored in the future, but people will not forget Article 370.
Speaking to reporters in Bandipora, Bukhari criticised the National Conference’s campaign on statehood and its recent call for protests, saying the issue was too important to be handled through unilateral political decisions. Referring to the party’s outreach on statehood, he remarked that the restoration of statehood is not a “biryani distribution” exercise and required consultation among political parties and stakeholders before any collective action was taken.
The Apni Party chief accused the National Conference of attempting to divert public attention from pressing concerns, particularly the controversy surrounding the outsourcing of government jobs.
He said the issue Is not a political battle between the National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party but a matter directly affecting unemployed youth across Jammu and Kashmir.
He urged the government to address the concerns of job seekers and warned against any perception that outsourced jobs were being distributed on political considerations. He said today’s youth is well informed and closely monitored government decisions through social media and other platforms.
“If the government thinks people will not know who is being appointed and on what basis, it is mistaken,” he said, adding that transparency and fairness must guide all recruitment-related decisions.
Responding to questions about recent BJP remarks that statehood would be restored at an “appropriate time”, Bukhari said the demand for statehood had been raised consistently over the years and should not be exploited for political mileage. He alleged that the National Conference had repeatedly shifted its political positions over the decades and was now attempting to revive the issue for electoral gains.
The Apni Party leader maintained that while statehood remained a legitimate aspiration of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, but they will not forget Article 370. At the same time, he said the people would never forget the abrogation of the special status and the political developments that followed, regardless of which party ultimately facilitated the restoration of statehood.
