J&K Ex-Minister Bukhari to launch new party

Srinagar: A group of politicians led by former J&K minister Altaf Bukhari plan to launch a new political party later this month.

The group believes that National Conference and People’s Democratic Party have shown too many ‘golden dreams’ to the people of J&K. However, considering the situation on ground, now, ‘it is extremely difficult and almost impossible for them (the parties) to retract from or retrieve that position, the group feels. “Existing political parties have shown too many big dreams to people and now they cannot even face the same electorate. They swayed people with the dreams of self-rule and autonomy because of which basic governance suffered,” a core member of the new party and former minister Ghulam Hassan Mir told ET. He claimed the name ‘Apni Party’ for the new political platform is getting a good response and could be the final one. Another name ‘Aap Ki Party’ was also being considered. As its immediate goal, the new political party would strive for the restoration of J&K statehood.

“On a long-term basis, we would work towards equality before law, secularism, economic revival and focus on neglected classes. Immediately, we will fight the for protection of land rights and jobs for people,” said Mir, who was a founding member of PDP and floated his own party JK Democratic Party.