Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, July 17: Continuing its district-wise outreach to connect with grassroots workers and the masses, Apni Party today held a workers' convention in central Kashmir's Budgam. The event attracted a large number of party leaders and workers from across the district. Addressing the occasion, party's Senior Vice President, Ghulam Hassan Mir, appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to "initiate a dialogue with the people of Jammu and Kashmir in order to understand their grievances and address the issues and problems they are facing."
He added, "People here are ready and willing to move forward on the path of peace and harmony, and they need to be responded to positively. The trust deficit between Jammu and Kashmir and the Centre needs to be addressed, and the Prime Minister himself must take the initiative in this regard."
Taking a dig at the ruling party, Mir blamed it for deceiving people through fake promises during the elections. He said, "They (the ruling party) boasted that after winning the elections, they would get Article 370 and statehood restored. This promise was a blatant lie, simply because even after winning the elections, it is not within the party's authority to restore these things. That is why I am saying they deceived people with fake promises."
He further said, "The alliance called PAGD was also a deception. At the time, the parties affiliated with it claimed that PAGD would fight for the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A. What happened to this alliance? It was created solely to mislead people and secure their votes."
He expressed his concern that "poor and marginalised people, who used to receive monthly assistance from the Social Welfare Department, are now running from pillar to post for the same - despite the fact that we now have an elected government in place."
Ghulam Hassan Mir further said, "Government employees whose General Provident Fund (GPF) withdrawals have been sanctioned are unable to receive their payments. Similarly, retired government employees are not able to get their gratuity released under this government. GPF and gratuity are the hard earned money of these employees, and they should be able to receive it without and delay. If this government doesn't address these small matters what else can be expected from it?"
Mir accused the elected government of failing to fulfil the promises it had made to the people.
He said, "You had promised one lakh jobs within six months of taking power. Where are these jobs? Similarly, you claimed that after coming to power, you would provide a specific amount of electricity and gas to the people. What happened to these and other promises you made to win their votes?"
Addressing the convention, party's General Secretary Rafi Ahmad Mir, urged workers to get organised and active in order to make the party strenghtn further. |
