09/09/2026
The political response to the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status in 2019 remains a subject of debate, with questions over the role of political parties and their leadership during the crisis.
In a conversation, Apni Party chief Altaf Bukhari argues that political parties should remain active when people face difficult circumstances. Recalling the detention of political leaders after August 2019, he says the people of Kashmir were “left like orphans” and questions whether greater political engagement and dialogue could have been pursued at the time.
His remarks raise broader questions about political responsibility, leadership and representation in Jammu and Kashmir during one of the region’s most consequential political developments.