Urges UT govt to ‘set at least’ 35-year residency requirement for domicile eligibility
SRINAGAR: Apni Party president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Saturday reiterated his call for the Centre to initiate a dialogue with the people of Jammu and Kashmir, asserting that the restoration of statehood must be followed by this meaningful engagement, which is promised by Prime Minister and Home Minster.
He was addressing a press conference in Jammu after a party event in which a prominent political and social activist from Gool Reasi, Syed Zulfiqar Ayobe alias Baji Sahib, joined the Apni Party.Ayobejoined the Apni Party along with six former Sarpanchs, six former Naib Sarpanchs, and 15 Panches. Altaf Bukhari, Provincial President Manjit Singh, and other leaders gave a warm welcome to the new entrants.
Bukhari expressed deep concern over the recent demolition of journalist Arfaz Daing’s house by the Jammu Development Authority (JDA), saying it was ironic that the government was not even willing to take responsibility for this unjustifiable act. He said, “The elected government claims it has no knowledge of the demolition, and the LG administration says the same. Should we then ask the United Nations (UN) on whose instructions this demolition was carried out? People have given a strong mandate to the ruling party. It is now the party’s responsibility to clarify this issue.”
However, he applauded the victim’s Hindu neighbour, Kuldeep Sharma, a resident of Jammu’s Narwal, who offered a piece of land to Daing for rebuilding his house.He said, “Sharma Ji has sent a clear message to the communal elements in society. This is the true spirit of Jammu and Kashmir. People of this land are not communal.”
On the issue over Muslim students’ admission at Vaishno Devi medical college, Apni Party president said, “Admissions to any educational institution should always be based on merit, not on religious identity. The day we begin selecting students on the basis of their religion, our society will start to fall apart.”
The Apni Party president urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to “Control the BJP leaders who are trying to communalise things.”He said, “It appears that some members of the BJP are acting beyond appropriate limits. I urge the Hon’ble Prime Minister to address this for the larger interests of the nation.”
Reiterating his demand to extend the residency requirement for domicile from the current 15 years to 50 years — or at least 35 years — the Apni Party President said that if the government fails to act within three months, the party will launch an agitation to ensure the residency period is increased for obtaining domicile.
Responding to a question, Bukhari said that there had been a security lapse that led to the horrific terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam earlier this year. He added, “Unfortunately, neither was responsibility fixed nor was anyone punished for the negligence.” During the press conference Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari was accompanied by party’s Provincial President Manjit Singh, and other senior leaders.