Bukhari accuses National Conference of driving demographic shift in Jammu & Kashmir

In a recent interview, former Jammu and Kashmir minister Abdul Gani Bukhari held the National Conference (NC) responsible for what he described as a demographic transformation in the valley. He argued that policies pursued by the party over the past decades have encouraged migration patterns that altered the ethnic and religious makeup of the region.
Bukhari pointed to settlement schemes, employment drives and political patronage as factors that, in his view, facilitated an influx of populations not native to the area. He said these changes have impacted the cultural fabric and political balance of Jammu and Kashmir.
The statement has sparked reactions among local political circles, with NC leaders yet to issue an official response. Analysts note that demographic concerns have long been a sensitive issue in the territory, often invoked in broader debates over autonomy and governance.
While Bukhari’s remarks add to the ongoing discourse on Jammu and Kashmir’s future, no concrete policy proposals were presented, and the claim remains a point of contention among parties vying for influence in the region.