Former PDP leader floats Jammu Kashmir Apni Party; vows to end mistrust between Jammu Kashmir and Centre

More than 30 leaders, including 23 former legislators and ministers, are likely to join the outfit from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), National Conference (NC) and the Congress, sources said, reported Indian Express.

The former finance minister of Jammu and Kashmir said the new party is an outfit "of the commoners, by the commoners and for the commoners".

The launch of Apni Party is being viewed as the beginning of the political process after the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A.

Bukhari said he wants to end the era of mistrust between Jammu and Kashmir and the Centre.

“We have to do business with Delhi, whosoever rules Delhi. We don’t look at Delhi from the point of who is ruling in Delhi today. We look at it from the government of India. We have no hesitation in dealing with the government of India. There is an atmosphere of mistrust and we want to end the mistrust between New Delhi and J&K,” he was quoted as saying by Indian Express.

Preservation of the self-respect and dignity of people of Jammu Kashmir and ensuring the dignified return of Kashmiri Pandits to the valley would be among his priorities, Bukhari said on the occasion.

Making a veiled attack at PDP and National Conference, the two major regional political parties of Jammu Kashmir, Bukhari said Apni Party is not floated by "a family" and added that provision has been made to ensure that no one can become the party president for more than two terms.

The PDP is currently headed by Mehbooba Mufti, daughter of its founder Mufti Mohammed Sayeed while National Conference formed by Sheikh Abdullah has his son Farooq Abdullah at its helm.

Bukhari was unanimously elected the president of the party, hours before it was launched at his residence.

According to Indian Express report, Ghulam Hassan Mir, former minister and chairman of Democratic Party Nationalist, former MLAs of PDP — Yawar Mir, Noor Mohd Sheikh, Ashraf Mir, and former Congress MLAs — Farooq Andrabi, Irfan Naqib are some of the prominent names who may join Apni Party.

"The key goals of the party include moving on beyond the 'perpetually mourning' amendment of Article 370 and focus on politics, socio-economic development for people in a practical and rational manner, raising concerns of people at all possible forums and with all political parties, ensuring synergy between Jammu people and Kashmir people, working with the administration to implement measures for revival of political activities in J&K, including raising demands for restoring statehood and decentralisation of power in region," have been stated as the objective of the party, the report added.

Sixty-year-old Bukhari was removed from PDP in January 2019 for allegedly inspiring and supporting dissent. He holds a degree in Agriculture Science and has been minister in previous PDP governments in Jammu and Kashmir.

Three former Chief Ministers of Jammu and Kashmir--Farooq Abdullah, his son Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti and several other political leaders continue to be under house arrest since August last when the Centre revoked Article 370 and 35(A) cancelling the special status of Jammu Kashmir and bifurcated the state into two union territories Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh.