J&K Apni Party prop of establishment: Yehcury

ibune News Service

New Delhi, March 16

Sitaram Yechury, CPM chief, on Monday fired a salvo against the newly floated Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party, headed by former PDP minister Altaf Bukhari, in Jammu and Kashmir, terming it as a “prop of the establishment”.

Responding to a question he said “the new party has been created by the government” which would lack credibility among the people.

Jammu and Kashmir was discussed at length during a two-day meeting of CPM’s Politburo, which concluded yesterday.

Bukhari-led delegation of his party met Prime Minister Narendra Modi last Saturday and discussed the prevailing situation in the UT.

He later said he had urged Modi for restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.

Expressing satisfaction on the delegation’s meeting with Modi, he said his party would work for the development of Jammu and Kashmir and communal harmony.

Giving details of the resolutions passed by the Politburo at its meeting, Yechury demanded release of all those held in detention since August 4/5 after the abrogation of Article 370.

He also demanded the release of former Chief Ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, who are under detention under the Public Safety Act.

He welcomed the release of former Chief Minister and currently MP Farooq Abdullah after seven months of detention.

“The clampdown in Kashmir continues…lakhs of livelihoods have been destroyed. Normal day-to-day activities simply do not exist,” Yechury said.

Joining the chorus of NC, PDP and Congress for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir along with its special status, Yechury demanded re-establishment of democratic processes forthwith.

He evaded reply to specific question on a Pakistan minister raking up “K” word during video conference of SAARC leaders yesterday with regard to cornavirus, saying it was the Indian government that had invited him.