Altaf Bukhari ‘breaks political ice’ in barred old bastions of down town …..!

‘Who will win doesn’t matter…who takes lead matters in changed atmosphere….’

Jammu: In keeping up its momentum of election campaign, Apni Party today gave further fillip to it by breaking political ice in hitherto forbidden areas of Srinagar in more than one way. No matter the political atmosphere has changed in Kashmir for all the parties, Altaf Bukhari took both the lead as well as credit to prove it.
While all other parties which have stakes on Srinagar Parliamentary seat may visit the areas which Bukhari dared to venture today, it will now be seen as a ‘walking behind’ or treading on his heels. For rivals of Apni Party like NC and PDP which often come under its attack, it will be like chasing in secondary pace and treading already touched peripheries which remained out of bounds due to political atmosphere and violence prone for decades.
It was not a simple road show as Apni Party chief chose to begin this from a highly revered shrine Dastgeer Sahab and concluded it at Jamia Masjid which also remained barred for any such political activity for a very long time on account of its religious and political sensitivities.
As per the reports Apni Party chief went on with the spree of visit to shrines with religious sentiments. This he did by showing utmost respect to famous saints of Kashmir but he chose to mix it with political aspirations and restoration of peace. There was vibrancy in his tone and tenor and this was well reciprocated by what many see as rousing response from the people. For Apni Party it may be just aiming at big audience with its new agenda which it sees as having acceptance of masses. It is pertinent to mention that Apni Party right from its inception has been targeting regional parties for exploitative policies over the years which brought miseries to people. The catch word of attack has been dual standards these parties adopted for the sake of power.
For the observers in general it is ushering in of new political era after decades, much like what used to be there in 1980’s. True to his own words, even ‘it doesn’t matter who will win in the elections, what matters is peace and end of exploitative politics…’. Political Pundits and analysts are deciphering the same way albeit in a different context. They say it truly doesn’t matter who wins but it certainly matters who takes lead in changed mood of Kashmir.

Updated On 5/7/2024 12:23:47 AM