Demands railway line linkage up to Poonch, Uri, Karnah, Kralpora in Kupwara
JAMMU: The Apni Party President, Syed Mohammed Altaf Bukhari Monday said that if his Party forms the next Govt they would end the discrimination in Jammu and Kashmir by ensuring equitable development, employment to the educated unemployed youth, revamp of educational and health care infrastructure across the erstwhile State.
Altaf Bukhari was addressing a public meeting here at Gole Gujral, Jammu. The largely attended meeting was organized by Party leader, Balbir Singh (Bawa).
In his address, Bukhari commended Bawa for organizing an impressive meeting and his work among the people to address their issues, especially in absence of an elected Govt in Jammu and Kashmir.
“I see a wave of change in Jammu. People want to give a chance to a new political party because they feel misled by the traditional political parties in Jammu and Kashmir. The people of Jammu have also developed a feeling of disconnection with the BJP after 2014 last assembly elections in which the Jammu voted the BJP to power. However, the BJP failed to fulfil the promises which were made with the people,” he said while expressing his support to the people who were feeling alienated without an elected Govt.
While the country is witnessing assembly elections in various states, he said that “The assembly elections are not being held in Jammu and Kashmir for the last five years without citing any reason.”
“The Panchayats and Municipalities have completed terms, but no elections were declared for these democratic institutions including the assembly elections in J&K,” he said.
Expressing surprise over the unruly delay in holding elections in J&K, he apprehended that the BJP might be worried about anguish against them among the masses because they have failed completely.
He however appreciated the people for extending their support to the Apni Party, especially in Jammu.
He asked the people to bring change in Jammu and Kashmir by supporting the Party candidates so that his Party can form an elected Govt and represent the people to resolve the issues. He also sought support of the people for the restoration of statehood.
Appreciating the Govt of India for railway link up to Rajouri, the Party President demanded that the railway line should be extended up to Poonch and then the border district shall also be linked through the railway line with Uri for 12 months connectivity (all weather) that would help the local economy to grow and the security forces on the other hand.
He said that the railway line shall also be further extended from Kupwara to Karnah – Karalpora etc unconnected area to provide better connectivity through Indian Railways in the rural and unexplored populated areas in Kashmir Valley.
Regarding the worsening infrastructure in Govt schools across Jammu and Kashmir, he said that: “We have 23000 Govt schools and well qualified teachers. Of these 23000 schools, many have no buildings or proper infrastructure and 70% lack toilets yet the people are advised to send their children to the Govt schools where improvement is needed.”
He questioned the previous Govts for their failure in upgrading and developing the school infrastructure whereas reports suggest shortage of subject specialist teachers in the schools.
“Many schools have no electricity, no desks for students to sit on, and the students are compelled to sit on the floors in the classrooms,” he said, and he also expressed concern over the shortage of doctors, staff, and technicians in the hospitals/Primary Health Centers across J&K.
Expressing dismay over increasing unemployment, he raised a question mark on the objectionable / delayed / cancellation of recruitment process for various posts due to which the aspirants have become over aged and sparked various protests.
The projects have failed to complete on given deadlines like the Jammu-Srinagar Highway that has become a cause of problem for the transporters and commuters because of delay in its completion, he added.
He also expressed concern over the unaddressed issues of the transporters / drivers who face problems in Nagrota (Jammu), Udhampur, Qazigund (Kashmir) whenever they are stranded for days without drinking water, and toilets etc.
Meanwhile, he said that his Party would reduce losses of the electricity and save the public money even after providing free of cost 500 units and 300 units of electricity to each family in J&K during summer and winter seasons.
Instead of harassing the common people, he said that the power department should penalize the big industrialists and recover the revenue from them in place of harassing the residential power consumers.
Expressing shock over the less amount of compensation to the border shelling victims, he said that the compensation amount should be enhanced from Rs 5 lakhs by the Govt, and he shall highlight the same before the authorities.
Regarding concerns of the people about Punjabi language, he said that the parents shall encourage their children for Punjabi teaching/learning and assured them that the Punjabi language shall be taught in the schools.
He however also insisted on teaching Hindi, Punjabi, Dogri and Kashmiri languages.
Prominent among those who were present on the occasion include State General Secretary, Syed Asgar Ali, Provincial President, Jammu, S. Manjit Singh, Media Advisor, Farooq Andrabi, Additional General Secretary, Arun Kumar Chibber, Provincial Vice President, Adv Nirmal Kotwal, State Secretary, Mohinder Singh Parihar, District President Jammu Rural-A, Pushp Dev Kumar Uppal, District President Jammu Rural-B, Harpreet Singh, SC State President Bodh Raj Bhagat, Provincial Secretary/Incharge Membership Drive, Dr Rohit Gupta, State President, Apni Trade Union, Ajaz Kazmi, Vice President Youth/Media Coordinator/Spokesperson, Raqeeq Ahmed Khan, General Secretary Youth/Spokesperson, Abhay Bakaya, Provincial President, Jammu Youth, Vipul Bali, Raj Kumar Sharma, Adil Wani, Vikram Rathore, Bhagat Ram, Tirath Singh, Vaibhav Mattoo, Anirudh Vasist, Neelam Gupta, Vicky Sudhan, Ritu Pandita, Sheetal Sharma, Asif, Vishal Nariana, Sheikh Bhardawaj, Sheevta, Devinder Singh Gill, Harjeet Singh Gill, Vipin, Amarjeet Singh, Joginder Sanam, Harjeet Singh, Yash Choudhary and others.
