SRINAGAR: The Apni Party president, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, has accused the Jammu and Kashmir administration of significantly reducing employment opportunities for the region’s youth by resorting to outsourcing government jobs. Bukhari made these remarks on Friday while addressing party workers’ conventions in Khanabal and Achabal, located in the southern part of Kashmir.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that Bukhari alleged the administration’s outsourcing of thousands of posts has exacerbated the unemployment crisis rather than creating avenues for aspiring professionals. He further claimed that despite the current administration being in office for over 20 months, it has failed to launch any substantial employment-generating projects. Instead, he stated, the government has opted to outsource numerous positions, thereby denying unemployed youth their rightful opportunities.
The Apni Party chief also directed criticism towards the ruling Jammu & Kashmir National Conference, alleging that the party has weakened democratic institutions by centralising power. He contended that the concentration of authority in the hands of a single individual post-assuming office has undermined grassroots democracy. Bukhari asserted that the prevailing political climate has seen democratic values supplanted by a culture of political sycophancy, and reiterated his party’s commitment to advocating for the strengthening of local governance and ensuring power is devolved to the populace.
Furthermore, Bukhari voiced strong disapproval of the administration’s perceived failure to honour commitments made during the 2024 Assembly election campaign. He specifically cited unfulfilled promises related to the restoration of Article 370, the creation of one lakh jobs, and the implementation of various welfare schemes. He highlighted that the people of South Kashmir, who elected all seven MLAs from the NC-Congress alliance, have seen none of their representatives inducted into the Council of Ministers, which he described as a testament to the ruling alliance’s alleged disregard for the regional mandate.
In his addresses, Bukhari urged the public to disengage from what he termed as “traditional family-run political parties,” accusing them of a consistent track record of failing to deliver on their electoral promises. He indicated that the Apni Party would soon initiate a comprehensive public outreach campaign across the region to bolster its grassroots presence and engagement.
The conventions were attended by several senior Apni Party leaders, including General Secretary Rafi Ahmad Mir and Additional General Secretary Hilal Ahmad Shah, who also addressed the party cadres. Bukhari expressed gratitude to the party workers for their unwavering commitment to the organisation since its inception, despite facing various political adversies.
The Apni Party’s statements underscore a growing concern among regional political entities regarding employment generation and governance in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in the context of evolving administrative policies and electoral promises.
The Chenab Times News Desk