Srinagar, July 9: Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Thursday questioned the National Conference’s approach towards its proposed July 20 protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi for the restoration of statehood, alleging contradictions in the statements made by the party leadership while asserting that his party supports the demand for statehood.
Speaking to reporters, Bukhari said National Conference president Dr. Farooq Abdullah had stated that no formal invitations would be issued for the protest and that anyone willing to participate could join, whereas Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had sent invitations to political parties.
“I have received the invitation,” Bukhari said, adding that restoration of statehood has always remained part of his party’s political agenda.
“Statehood is my agenda, so I will not criticise the demand,” he said.
However, Bukhari criticised the National Conference for allegedly deciding on the Jantar Mantar programme without consulting other political parties.
“We believe in the process of consultation, unlike the National Conference, which did not consult anyone before announcing the programme,” he said.
Referring to the meeting convened by the Chief Minister with representatives of civil society, Bukhari as per the news agency Kashmir News Trust questioned the identities of those who attended.
“I don’t know who these people from civil society were. The National Conference did not disclose their names,” he said.
Commenting on developmental works, the Apni Party president alleged that the Chief Minister was disconnected from the ground situation, particularly with regard to the macadamization of roads across Jammu and Kashmir.
He alleged that contractors were facing financial hardships due to non-payment of pending bills, claiming that some were yet to receive payments for works executed in 2015.
“You cannot continue to squeeze contractors who have not even been paid for the works they carried out in 2015,” Bukhari said. [KNT]
