BARAMULLA: Seeking public support for the Apni Party to secure a clear mandate in the upcoming elections, the party president, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, said on Sunday that his "party is unwaveringly dedicated to protecting the constitutional rights of Jammu and Kashmir and its people."

He asserted that "the people of Jammu and Kashmir are entitled to the full range of constitutional rights, just like citizens from any other part of the country."

Bukhari was addressing a public rally at Tilgam Pattan, in north Kashmir's Baramulla district, today.

According to a press release issued here, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, while seeking public support for the Apni Party to secure a clear mandate, said, "Today, I am here to assure you that when you elect your representative from the party, I will take responsibility to ensure that he or she delivers as per your expectations."

"Check our agenda and policies, and you will discover that we have a clear vision to ensure prosperity and development for every area of Jammu and Kashmir. Unlike traditional political parties, we do not sell deceitful dreams, make fake promises, or rely on emotional narratives. Our politics is grounded in truth and integrity. We only promise what we believe can be delivered," he added.

He went on to say, "We witness the lack of development in most areas of Jammu and Kashmir because the parties that governed us over the past seventy years never had a genuine vision for development. They had only deceptive slogans such as 'Raishumari', 'Autonomy', and 'Self-rule' to allure you and grab your votes to place themselves at the helm. You placed blind trust in their false promises, allowing them to deceive you again and again."

Giving the most recent example of the deceitful promises by the conventional parties, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said, "In the 2019 parliamentary elections, these parties sought your votes with a promise that they would protect Article 370 from being abrogated. You elected all three members of parliament from one of these parties, yet they could not protect Article 370. Even these elected MPs did not even bother to resign in protest of the abrogation of Article 370."

"Then, these parties created a so called alliance named GAPD in 2019, promising that this alliance would get articles 370 and 35A back. They even took your votes during the DDC polls on this promise. Now, you have seen that, for their individual political gains, they dismantled this so called alliance themselves. They did not even bother to tell you why they failed to protect article 370 and 35A in the first place, and why did they deceive you by the name of PADG for the past more than four years."

The Apni Party leader urged people to reject these traditional political parties to punish them for their decades of deceitful politics. He said, "You must not fall prey to their deceptive slogans any longer. You should not re-elect the same people who promised to protect Article 370 in parliament after receiving your votes. They deserve your rejection for misleading you."

"Earlier, your options were limited. However, now you have the Apni Party as a reliable political alternative. I assure you that we will not disappoint you. Give us your support to secure a clear mandate in the upcoming elections," he added.

Addressing the rally, party's senior vice president Ghulam Hassan Mir, urged New Delhi to ensure assembly elections without any further delay.

He said, "Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of the country. If people from the rest of the country enjoy their right to choose their own representatives, then why should people of J&K be deprived of their constitutional right to elect their own representatives to lead them? I urge the central government to ensure assembly elections here without any further delay."

Mir also urged people to use their vote wisely this time and not resort to boycotting politics. He said, "It is your responsibility to elect representatives who will be accountable to you. The traditional parties and their leaders have always deceived you. This is the time to tell them that enough is enough. Don't fall prey to their deceptive narratives and emotional slogans anymore.

Also, you must ensure to come out to vote. Poll boycott politics has damaged the interests of the people to the core. Your boycott has always paved the way for deceitful candidates from the traditional parties. I request taht you choose your representatives carefully and use your vote wisely this time."

Besides Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari and Ghulam Hassan Mir, the prominent party leaders who were present on the occasion, included party in charge for the Wagoora constituency Shabir Ahmad Shah, coordinator Baramulla district Fazal Ahmad Beigh, constituency incharge for the Pattan constituency Javid Iqbal, provincial vice president Muzafar Rizvi, Dislshad Ahmad Malik, Abdul Majeed Shah, Ranjoor Tilgami, Irfan Ahmad, MNigeena, district president for the women's wing Baramulla Advocate Rabia, Abdul Majeed Dar, Mohammad Sultan, Ghulam Mohi ud Din, former sarpanch Hilal Ahmad, and others.