J&K Apni Party chief Altaf Bukhari rejects Delimitation Commission draft report as ‘imitation of Dixon Plan’

JAMMU, FEBRUARY 19: J&K Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari on Saturday rejected the Delimitation Commission draft report, saying it is an “imitation of Dixon Plan” which had recommended bifurcation of erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir State on communal lines.

Pointing out that the draft report has disappointed all sections of society, he criticised silence of all the sitting MPs from the state over the issue in Parliament, saying that they have failed to represent the sentiments and aspspirations of the people.

“These MPs should resign from the Parliament for their inability to represent the people of J&K. It shows that they represented their political parties but not the people,” he said.

Bukhari alleged that the Delimitation Commission prepared the draft without doing any ground work and consulting the people and their representatives in different constituencies.

“The merging of Anantnag Lok Sabha Constituency with Rajouri and Poonch is an example of gross injustice with the people,” he pointed out.

He also described the reconfiguration of Karnah Assembly constituency as “illogical”, asking “whether the voters will use flying taxis to cast their votes in constituencies which were created ignoring geographical difficulties and long distances? These areas often remain cut off for six months. How do the people of one area approach their representative? Is it possible?” he asked.

He further criticised the merger of Suchetgarh constituency with RS Pura, adding that political ambitions of a particular party have been given preference over issues of Barnala security.

It may sound strange, but the Commission members while sitting in Pahalgam completed their report concerning 12 constituencies within a single day without doing any kind of ground exercise,” he alleged.

He condemned the draft report of the Delimitation Commission calling it injustice with the vast majority in J&K.