Senior PDP leader and former R&B minister Syed Altaf Bukhari while nullifying the reports of leading any pressure group within the party said on Monday that his main objective was to avoid thrusting another election upon the people of Jammu and Kashmir.“One a year was passed since the polls were held in 2014. I didn’t want people to undergo further hardships. If anyone says I was leading the pressure group, I would say in return that my basic objective was to make Mehbooba Mufti state’s chief minister,” Bukhari told KNS.He said that he is much happy to see Mehbooba becoming Jammu and Kashmir’s chief minister. “This was the wish of our beloved leader Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. I always wanted that dream to be fulfilled. Everyone wanted Mehboobaji to assume state’s top post and that is the reason that we choose her as Legislative Party leader and not anyone else,” Bukhari told KNS.
In a scathing attack against Srinagar’s parliament member Tariq Hameed Karra, Bukhari said Karra has been changing stands every then and now. “He is a chameleon. He has been changing colours since the day BJP-PDP coalition was formed last year in the state. I have nothing personal against Tariq Karra. I respect him as a senior but the way he has been changing colours is utterly disgraceful.”When asked about the reasons behind him being dropped in Mehbooba’s cabinet, Bukhari said he has family relations with the Muftis and that it was only this relation that made him to contest elections in 2014 and registering triumph. “It is the prerogative of the chief minister to choose the cabinet. I respect the decision of Mehbooba Mufti and have no grudges at all.
My being the minister or not would not affect my association with the PDP. I would continue to strive for strengthening it,” Bukhari said.He maintained further that he would continue to work for the overall development of Srinagar and would not allow anyone to ignore the summer capital at any cost. “I can assure you that no one can afford to ignore Srinagar. We will act as the pressure group for Srinagar’s growth and development. We will not vanish but will keep fighting for Srinagar- this much I can assure you with certainty.”Bukhari stated that in view of the municipal polls which are forthcoming, party’s priority would be to sweep the municipal polls and emerge victorious. “We will galvanize our energies to take control of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation. We will win it and we have to focus on that.” (KNS)