New Delhi, Jan 25: Apni Party president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Sunday evening met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi and presented a memorandum highlighting the pressing demands of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
According to a statement issued the meeting that lasted almost for an hour was held in a very cordial atmosphere. Bukhari expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for tackling the COVID pandemic and initiating a comprehensive vaccination drive in the country.
He also thanked the Prime Minister for sanctioning a special package for the revival of the industrial sector in Jammu and Kashmir. During the course of the meeting, Bukhari reiterated his demand for the restoration of Statehood to J&K and urged the Prime Minister not to delay fulfillment of this commitment any further.
Expressing serious concern with regard to the rising unemployment rate in J&K, Bukhari urged for formulation of a comprehensive employment package for the J&K youth who have been yearning for a dignified livelihood.
He emphasized on the need for exploration of viable options including roping in of multinational companies across the country and in the gulf countries so as to address the unemployment problem of J&K’s qualified and skilled youth.
Bukhari also solicited the intervention of the Prime Minister for restoration of age relaxation for J&K’s UPSC aspirants that was in vogue before January 2020. He said that scrapping the UPSC age relaxation clause to the Domicile of J&K has extremely disappointed the youth of J&K.
Similarly, Bukhari urged the Prime Minister to order lifting of ban on 4G mobile internet services across Jammu and Kashmir. He termed the ban on 4G in J&K unjustifiable and a discrimination with the people especially the student and business community.
Referring to the return of Kashmiri Pandits into the valley, Bukhari pleaded for an honorable return of Pandit and sought their rehabilitation with the majority community in the Valley. He said any ghettoization of this inseparable part of Kashmiri society will not be acceptable to the people.
Bukhari also pressed for the construction of individual and community bunkers for the border residents in J&K so as to prevent the loss of life and damages to the properties recurring due to cross LoC skirmishes.
The memorundum presented by Bukhari follows:
To,
Shri. Narendar Modi Ji,
Hon’ble Prime Minister of India,
E Block, Central Secretariat,
New Delhi, 110011.
Subject: Memorandum with regard to some pressing issues pertaining to the people of J&K which merit your personal intervention
Respected Sir,
I take this opportunity to put it on record to extend gratitude on behalf of my Party that most of the demands raised in our earlier meeting dated March 14, 2020 have been fulfilled. However, there are many such issues which we discussed during our previous meeting and are of the utmost importance for the socio-economic and political empowerment of the people of J&K are yet to be accorded your consideration.
Today, I would like to reiterate and remind your good-self about certain promises made on the floor of Parliament and commitments made during our previous meeting.
Restoration of Statehood
This is the first and foremost demand of the People of Jammu and Kashmir who are eagerly waiting for its fulfillment. Statehood is a reference to the glorious past and a privilege for solidification of the idea of pluralism and respectful coexistence in Jammu and Kashmir like any other State in our country.
For keeping up this spirit and allowing a cultural mosaic to continue, restoration of this privileged status including establishment of a Legislative Council should be done as per the commitment made on the floor of Parliament.
Youth Employment Policy
Youth in J&K are extremely alienated due to multiple reasons. This alienation makes most of them an easy fodder for those elements who want to foment trouble in the region.
We cannot afford loss of another generation which otherwise can be addressed with a meaningful engagement with the youth and their aspirations. Need of the hour is that a comprehensive youth employment policy is framed and implemented in letter and spirit. There is an alrming rise in the unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir and ways and means can be explored that this pressing problem is addressed through roping in multinational companies across the country and in the overseas gulf countries which can absorb a major chunk of J&K’s qualified and skilled youth.
Restoration of Internet:
Restoration of 4G mobile internet speed in just two districts of J&K is a cruel joke. The ban on 4G mobile internet is nearing completion of two years. This unjustifiable ban on mobile internet has caused huge inconvenience to the people especially students and traders community in J&K. The government must review its decision and lift the ban on high speed mobile internet so that people can avail the benefits of modern day data and telecommunication facilities like other citizens of the country. Continuing with this unjustified ban on the basis of unfounded security concerns should be done away with.
Honb’le Return of Kashmiri Pandits:
Kashmiri Pandits are an inseparable part of Jammu & Kashmir’s pluralistic ethos. Unfortunately, living like refugees in their own country, they have been demanding rehabilitation with dignity.
The central government should make special efforts to ensure that Kashmiri Pandits return to the land of their ancestors with full dignity and an assured livelihood. The policy in this regard needs to be framed in such a way that their return does not create any divisions with the Kashmiri society. For formulation and implementation of such a policy the other communities in J&K need to be kept on board.
Jammu-Srinagar National Highway/ Rising Airfare:
The dilapidated condition of Jammu-Srinagar National Highway—being the Valley’s only land connectivity with rest of the country, has been a source of perpetual distress for the people of the region especially during winters.
A major portion of this highway is landslide prone, slippery and dangerous. The Highway needs to be developed urgently and till that work is accomplished, Dakota services should be a permanent feature for a hassle free connectivity between Jammu and Srinagar.
Similarly, the government of India needs to focus on the inter regional connectivity across Jammu and Kashmir. Making Mughal road an all weather road by construction of a much needed tunnel besides developing Sinthan Top will provide a dependable alternative to the people of J&K to travel between the two capitals of the erstwhile State. Similarly, there is a dire need of construction of a tunnel at Sadhna top for hassle free connectivity in North Kashmir.
The perpetual closure of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway gives rise to the sky rocketing hike in airfare. The civil aviation ministry needs to put a cap on airfare from Jammu-Srinagar and vice versa and Jammu & Kashmir with the rest of the country. This will not only boost and promote the tourism sector but will also provide a sigh of relief to the people of J&K who suffer immensely because of exorbitant airfares.
Restoration of age relaxation for J&K’s UPSC aspirants
The government’s recent decision of scrapping the age relaxation clause to the domicile of J&K w-e-f 1 January 2020 is most unfortunate.
Youth Empowerment should be the prime goal of the current political dispensation within the erstwhile State of J&K. Contrarily there is a general perception among J&K youth that they are not a priority for the country’s leadership.
Scrapping the UPSC age relaxation clause to the Domicile of J&K has turned the local youth to a State of disconcertment. Legitimately, the age relaxation clause of 5 years to the domicile of J&K must continue in its original form I.e from the period of its inception, 1995 as it compensates to the period lost to violence, terrorism and conflict.
Pertinently, the original clause of age relaxation would have terminated on its own on 31st Dec 2026. It’s untimely scrapping, just a few years in advance is unfair, prejudice and biased.
Taking away such a benefit from the disadvantaged population of J&K cannot be justified. Thus I solicit the intervention of your goodself so that the age relaxation clause is restored in it’s original form.
Construction of Bunkers:
Construction of concrete bunkers for hapless people near firing range in Karnah, Tangdhar, Keran, Uri and areas of Jammu province should be among the government’s top priorities as these border areas are vulnerable to frequent border skirmishes which result in death and destruction of properties.
Though a speedy action was assured at the highest level but no purpose centric forward movement seems in this direction. There is a feeling that even this human tragedy is not free from lopsided treatment.
I am hopeful that the above mentioned issues will be accorded a favorable consideration in accordance with the wishes and aspiration of people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Warm Regards
Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari
