Businessman-turned-politician and former Minister Altaf Bukhari , 60, on Sunday floated the J&K Apni Party (JKAP) as an alternative to the regional parties such as the National Conference (NC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), of which he was once a member.
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The JKAP becomes the first Valley-based regional party since 1947 that stands for integration of Jammu and Kashmir into the Union of India and that is against any special status or autonomy for the Union Territory, in contrast to the NC’s pre-1953 position, the PDP’s ‘self-rule’ and Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference’s ‘Achievable Nationhood’.
“We’re not here to sell dreams and fantasies but will always be pragmatic, honest and fair in our approach,” Mr. Bukhari said.
“We have resolved to create a platform where people are the real stakeholders of the political process,” said Mr. Bukhari, who hit the political scene in 2014 by joining the PDP and was the richest candidate with assets worth ₹84 crore in the Assembly election.
On Article 370, Mr. Bukhari said, “It is now in the domain of the judiciary. We will wait for the verdict of the Supreme Court.” However, his party’s main plank would be restoration of statehood and domicile rights to land and employment.
The party has decided not to seek reunification of the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh into one State. It has taken no members from Ladakh and confined itself to Jammu and Kashmir. “The party will seek to preserve the identity and dignity of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the dignified return of the Kashmiri Pandits, empowerment of youth and women,” he said.
Except for PDP patron Muzaffar Hussian Baig, Mr. Bukhari has roped in most of former PDP legislators and Ministers.
Sources said Mr. Bukhari and Mr. Baig were in touch, but failed to reach an agreement on who would head the new party. However, Mr. Baig’s brother Javid Baig did join Mr. Bukhari's party. Five former legislators of the Congress and one from the NC from Jammu are among the 40 leaders who joined the party.
