Srinagar, April 9 

Altaf Bukhari on Thursday called on the central government to initiate confidence-building measures and begin what he described as a “meaningful dialogue” with the people of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly its youth, to address a widening trust deficit.

Addressing a news conference in Srinagar, Bukhari said the moment was opportune for New Delhi to follow through on earlier commitments to engage with the region. 

He referred to assurances made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, urging the government to translate those promises into action.

“The people have chosen peace and normalcy,” he said. “It is now for the Centre to respond with sincerity.”

Bukhari, whose Apni Party was formed in 2020 following the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, reiterated his demand for the restoration of statehood and raised concerns over the continued detention of individuals in the region. 

He called for the release of those held without timely trial outcomes and for a relaxation of police verification procedures affecting job seekers and passport applicants.

Bukhari also criticised the region’s current administration, led by the National Conference, for what he described as a failure to deliver on electoral promises, including job creation and the regularisation of daily wage workers.

On economic and governance issues, Bukhari pointed to a recent report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India indicating that thousands of crores of rupees in allocated funds had gone unspent, calling it a missed opportunity for development and welfare.

He also raised concerns about the region’s reservation policies, arguing that job allocations should more closely reflect population proportions, and highlighted distress in the horticulture sector, where farmers have faced repeated losses due to extreme weather events.

Calling for faster compensation and less bureaucratic delay, Bukhari said government agencies should respond more swiftly to such crises.

Taken together, his remarks reflected a broader appeal for political engagement, administrative reform and economic responsiveness in a region navigating both longstanding grievances and emerging challenges.