Altaf Bukhari calls for extending domicile residency requirement from existing 15 to 35 years, revisit reservation policy

Posted by admin_kas on 2025-11-25 23:03:46 |

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KS News Desk 

Langate, Nov 25: Apni Party President Altaf Bukhari on Tuesday strongly urged the Union Government to begin a direct dialogue with the people of Jammu and Kashmir and, following this dialogue, restore statehood as already promised.

He said bridging Dil ki doori (distance of hearts) is utmost important for a lasting peace and stability in J&K. He also urged the elected UT government to increase the domicile residency requirement from 15 years to 35 years and to revisit the reservation policy to make it balanced and judicious.

Altaf Bukhari condemned the ongoing arrests and voiced serious concern over recent incidents of harassment of Kashmiris in several places outside J&K.

He made these remarks while addressing a workers’ gathering in Kralagund area of the Langate Constituency, where the party launched public outreach campaign on Tuesday.

In his speech, Apni Party President said, “We met and interacted with our senior workers here. The purpose of this meeting was to plan our strategy and reaffirm our agenda and policies, which have been proven right because they are rooted in truth and integrity. Even today, the manifesto we presented during last year’s Assembly elections remains relevant. Other parties made false promises and used misleading slogans, but we spoke about real issues and real problems. We promised that if we were given the mandate, we would address these issues effectively.”

He further said, “The real problems are the arrests of our youth, delays in the verification process required for jobs and passports, and people being called to police stations simply because they held a different ideology in the 1990s. These are the genuine issues affecting our people. We had promised that if we came to power, we would announce a general amnesty for the detainees. We would have ensured a dignified life for our youth and brought an end to the arrest spree. But unfortunately we were not voted to power.

He continued, “We are the first political party that actually managed to secure something for the people of Jammu and Kashmir from New Delhi—an official order that our land and jobs would remain reserved for the people of this region. For the past 75 years other parties only giving things away to New Delhi.”

Apni Party President explained it further, “After August 5, 2019, anyone from outside J&K could have bought land here or applied for jobs. But it was the Apni Party that went to Delhi and ensured that a 15-year residency requirement was fixed for domicile eligibility. That was our achievement, and we never boasted about it. We did not even speak much about it, perhaps because soon after this happening, Covid pandemic outbreak. This is reason most people do not have any idea how J&K people succeeded to retain their special rights over land and jobs here despite the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A. The fact is that credit for this achievement goes to Apni Party that stood firmly at that time before the Government of India.”

“Five years have already passed since then, and now is the right time to extend the residency requirement for domicile. This power lies with the UT Government. I urge my workers to inform people about why increasing the residency period is important. Let people understand that demands like free electricity and other such issues are minor. They must press the government on the more important issue—strengthening the domicile law,” He said.

He urged his party workers to reach out to the people and make them aware of what the Apni Party stands for and what it aims to achieve for them.

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Urging the Centre to start a dialogue with the people of Jammu and Kashmir, Altaf Bukhari said, “whether the government chooses to talk to Pakistan or not is entirely its own decision. But we firmly demand that a dialogue must begin immediately with the people—especially the youth of Jammu and Kashmir. Following this dialogue, statehood should be restored, as the Centre has already promised.”

He said that all political parties in J&K must unite to push for a dialogue between the people and the Central Government, so that the path is cleared for the restoration of statehood and other important rights.

The Apni Party President said that time has proven that those who ran a vicious defamation campaign against the Apni Party are actually the ones working hand in glove with the BJP. History shows that the leaders of these parties gained power and even became Chief Ministers and Union ministers with BJP’s support. They are the real proxies and B-teams of the BJP.

He said, “We cannot be linked to that BJP. However, the Prime Minister is the leader of the entire country, and so is the Home Minister. Anyone who wants to work for the people of Jammu and Kashmir must cooperate with these national leaders. We cannot solve our problems without the active support of the Government of India.”

On reservation issue, Altaf Bukhari further explained, “Look at how unemployment is harming the future of our youngsters. Many of them are falling prey to the prevailing drug menace. Our youth deserve employment opportunities so they can lead normal and peaceful lives.”

“If the elected government fails to deliver even on these important matters, it is a shame for the government,”Bukhari added.

On this occasion, Altaf Bukhari also spoke about the local issues faced by the people. He said, “I firmly believe that the proposed Government Medical College (GMC) must be built at its approved site in Gund Chogal, Handwara. Any attempt to shift this project will be strongly opposed by the Apni Party. A huge sum of Rs 45 crore in public funds has already been spent, so the college must be completed at the approved location without any further delay.”

The residents informed the Apni Party President about certain issues and problems that people in the Langate constituency are facing. They said that the Degree College he had approved as Education Minister in the erstwhile state has still not been built because land has not yet been allotted for it.

They also raised issues of a severe water crisis, poor infrastructure, and the shortage of lady doctors in local health centres.Altaf Bukhari assured them that he would take up these matters with the authorities concerned.