Bukhari meets PM, seeks statehood for J&K, 4G, dignified return of KPs to Valley

NEW DELHI: Apni Party President Syed Altaf Bukhari called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sought early restoration of J&K’s statehood besides making available high speed internet in the UT and ensuring dignified return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits in the homes and hearths in Valley.

According to a spokesman of the party, Bukhari expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for the special package to revive the industrial sector in J&K. “Bukhari urged the Prime Minister not to delay the fulfillment of giving back the status of State to J&K,” he added.

The spokesman informed that the Apni Party chief also urged PM Modi to allow the high speed internet across the UT as the restriction is affecting the population badly and the worst sufferers are the students and business class. “Another highlight of the meeting between PM Modi and Bukhari was the demand of return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley”, he added.

“The dismal condition of National Highway connecting Jammu with Srinagar, and fortification of inter-regional road connections like Mughal Road and Kishtwar-Sinthan routes by making them fit for all seasons also came up for discussion,” he added.

Altaf Bukhari was earlier with the PDP and remained minister in the PDP-BJP government holding important portfolios including education, works and finance. On March 8, last year, this businessman-turned-politician came up with his own party namely J&K Apni Party.

Later, Bukhari submitted a memorandum to the PM raising concerns. The memorandum reads, “Restoration of Statehood is the first and foremost demand of the People of Jammu and Kashmir who are eagerly waiting for its fulfillment. Youth in J&K are extremely alienated due to multiple reasons. Need of the hour is that a comprehensive youth employment policy is framed and implemented in letter and spirit. The government must lift the ban on high speed mobile internet so that people can avail the benefits of modern day data and telecommunication facilities.

The central government should make special efforts to ensure that Kashmiri Pandits return to the land of their ancestors with full dignity and an assured livelihood. The policy in this regard needs to be framed in such a way that their return does not create any divisions with the Kashmiri society.

For formulation and implementation of such a policy the other communities in J&K need to be kept on board. The NH 44 needs to be developed urgently and till that work is accomplished, Dakota services should be a permanent feature for a hassle free connectivity between Jammu and Srinagar. The perpetual closure of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway gives rise to the sky rocketing hike in airfare. The civil aviation ministry needs to put a cap on airfare from Jammu-Srinagar and vice versa.

This will not only boost and promote the tourism sector but will also provide a sigh of relief to the people of J&K who suffer immensely because of exorbitant airfares. The government's recent decision of scrapping the age relaxation clause to the domicile of J&K with effect from January 1, 2020 is most unfortunate. The age relaxation clause of 5 years to the domicile of J&K must continue in its original form viz. from the period of its inception, 1995 as it compensates to the period lost to violence, terrorism and conflict. Construction of concrete bunkers for hapless people near firing range in Karnah, Tangdhar, Keran, Uri and areas of Jammu province should be among the government's top priorities”.