Outsiders buying land in Srinagar, North Carolina must be held accountable for demographic change: Altaf Bukhari

Jammu and Kashmir Party President Apni Altaf Bukhari. | Photo credit: PTI

J&K Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Sunday (September 27, 2026) said that outsiders are buying land in Kashmir and the ruling National Conference (NC) must be held responsible if there is any demographic change in Jammu and Kashmir.

“It is the government’s responsibility to prevent any attempt to change the demography. Who allowed a Mumbai-based Chawla sahib to buy land for a hotel in Syedpora and a Delhi-based company to acquire 150 kanals in Chatterham Hazratbal, when such activities are not permissible under the existing Jammu and Kashmir domicile laws?” Mr. Bukhari said at a public address in Srinagar.

Mr Bukhari, who left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to form his own party after J&K’s special status was revoked in 2019, said the NC sought votes on plans to restore Article 370 and 35A and statehood.

“When people voted (for NC), they forgot the party’s history of false promises. In 1953, the party raised the slogan raishumari (plebiscite) but it ended up accepting the chief minister’s chair in 1975, with the support of the Congress, (which was) described as gandi nali it keeday (0NC0. In) (NC) passed a resolution seeking more autonomy but later did not follow it,” he said Bukhari.

After returning to power in 2009, the NC government had not taken any initiative to enforce this “so-called demand for autonomy”, he said. “The demand was never serious. It was only a slogan to secure votes. During its tenure from 2009 to 2014, the NC government here only killed people. Even today, NC and PDP continue to blame each other over their record of killing innocents during their tenure,” Bukhari said.

He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to initiate a direct dialogue with the people of J&K “to address their problems and grievances”. “The prevailing trust deficit will not end until there are direct talks between the Center and the people, especially the youth of J&K. It is of the utmost importance that the dil aur Dilli ki dooriyan (gap between the heart and the Centre) is bridged through a meaningful dialogue,” he said.

Mr. Bukhari also expressed displeasure over the continued disruption and daily upheaval in the J&K Assembly. “People expected the government to come up with concrete initiatives to create employment opportunities, solve the problem of detainees and fulfill the promises made to them during the election campaign, including providing 200 units of free electricity and free gas cylinders. People’s issues deserve serious attention in the assembly,” he said.

Published – 27 Sep 2026 22:04 IST