SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Apni party president Altaf Bukhari on Tuesday said that he has been advocating for the release of all religious and political leaders, including Mirwaiz Molvi Umar Farooq and that he has even brought the matter before Prime Minister and Home Minister of the country.
Bukhari welcomed the quashing of PSA detention and the release of prominent religious clerics from South Kashmir, Mushtaq Ahmad Veeri and Moulana Dawoodi.
He said that he had been advocating for their release for a long time, and even during his every public speech, he had urged the Centre and local administration to release all religious leaders, including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. However, he doesn’t want to take credit for the same.
One being asked about removing additional duties on apple and walnuts by the Centre, Bukhari said that it is really unfortunate that the Centre has taken such a decision without taking farmers and fruit growers onboard.
“Before taking any such step Centre should have consulted farmers and fruit growers of Jammu and Kashmir as they are already suffering for the last several years. They should be compensated first before any such decision is taken,” he said.
He urged the Centre to reconsider this decision, as farmers and fruit growers in Jammu and Kashmir have been going through tough times.
On being asked about the prevailing drug menace in Jammu and Kashmir and role of religious leaders, he said that religious leaders could play an important role in curbing this menace.
“They can sensitise people through their sermons in local masjids, madrassas and other religious forums as their voice has a influence and cam play a major role in curbing drug menace in the society,” he said.
He also said that some people are doing negative politics in Jammu and Kashmir and are becoming a hindrance in positive development in the Union Territory. Still, such negative politics won’t stay for a long.
Bukhari also demanded that FIR should be filed against National Highways Authority of India after four persons died when a boulder hit their vehicle on Srinagar-Jammu highway in Ramban on Tuesday.
He also demanded that a thorough investigation should be conducted into the matter and the case should be handed over CBI to bring the culprits to justice as this highway has become a death trap despite spending crores of funds. (KNS)
