Jammu, 12 August (H.S.): Apni Party president, Altaf Bukhari urged the authorities not to harass the youth in Kashmir and to allow them to participate freely in the August 15 celebrations.

He said that the youth have endured immense hardships and suffering over the years and deserve to live a dignified life. The Government should not test their patience and must hold a dialogue. Even those who may have been involved in activities in the past, have suffered enough over the years and should be given an opportunity to move forward and lead a peaceful and dignified life, he said.

Bukhari made these remarks while responding to reporters' questions after a workers convention held at Wailoo, Tangmarg.

Replying to a question about the apprehension of security threat to certain section of people, he said that the enemy is always looking for an opportunity, and therefore, everyone must remain vigilant.

Our enemy will certainly try to disrupt the prevailing peace and calm, but with our vigilance and collective resolve, we have to foil any such attempt, he said.

When asked about the strategy the Apni Party plans to adopt for the restoration of J&K's Statehood, he said that the party's strategy remains the same as the one it adopted in 2020. At that time too, we chose dialogue with New Delhi to ensure that the people of J&K continued to retain their exclusive rights over land and jobs, he said.

On being asked about the pending Panchayat and Urban Local Bodies (ULB) elections, Bukhari said, It appears that as long as the NC remains in power, Panchayat and ULB elections will not be held. They do not want people to exercise their democratic right to choose their representatives at the grassroots level.

Bukhari expressed his grave concern over the Government's inability to provide and effective governance. The ruling party took votes from the people by promising that it would address their issues once it came to power. The people gave it a huge mandate, but now the party does not want to fulfil its promises, he added.

Senior party leader Ghulam Hassan Mir also spoke on the occasion. A social and political figure Bashir Ahmad Dar from Pariswani Kunzer joined the party on the occasion.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Krishan Kumar