Altaf Bukhari, the president of Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party, spoke out against the ongoing anti-encroachment drive in the Union Territory on Saturday. He criticized the administration for attempting to retrieve state land, and vowed that his party would not allow non-locals to settle in Jammu and Kashmir.
At a function organized to welcome new party members, Bukhari stated that the land in J&K belongs to the people of the former state and expressed concern over the impact of the anti-encroachment drive on local residents. He accused the government of having no understanding of the issues faced by the poor and criticized the BJP for delaying assembly elections in the region.
Bukhari promised that, if his party comes to power, they will reverse all “anti-people” decisions made by the administration, including the anti-encroachment drives and the ending of the darbar move practice. He argued that decisions regarding unauthorised colonies should be left to the elected government.
Regarding the demolition of a showroom in Jammu during the anti-encroachment drive, Bukhari claimed that 40 workers lost their livelihood due to the “wrong decision” made by the government. He also pointed out that the government should have taken action against the revenue officials who allowed the construction in the first place, instead of displacing people from their land.
Despite his criticisms, Bukhari appealed to the people to maintain peace and emphasized that the Apni Party is committed to bringing stability, peace, and prosperity to the region. He pledged to continue the fight against those who seek to create division based on region and religion.
(Inputs from PTI)
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