Srinagar, Mar 18 : Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Waheed ul Rehman Para on Wednesday accused the National Conference (NC) party of shielding the elite while the poor continue to face the brunt of demolition drives, as the political dispute over land rights intensified in Jammu and Kashmir.
Reacting to NC leader Tanvir Sadiq’s remarks, MLA Para speaking to news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS) criticized the National Conference party for rejecting a bill aimed at granting ownership rights to people living on state land, only to promise new legislation later. “The bill was rejected in the Assembly by the National Conference. Now they claim they will bring a new one. InshaAllah, if it truly serves the people, we will support it,” he said.
The PDP MLA, however, stressed that the core issue remained the plight of the underprivileged, demanding that families residing on state land—including grazing reserves, nazool land, and forest land—for decades be given ownership rights immediately.
“Those who talk about land grabbers should look in the mirror. Everyone knows who owns land in Lal Chowk and who owns properties like Nehru Hotel. Are they referring to leaders like Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, or their associates?” he asked, adding that if one were to question the biggest landholdings in Gulmarg or on Gupkar Road, the answers would be inconvenient for them.
MLA Para cited a question raised by MLA Mir Fayaz recently in the House, which revealed that nearly 1,500 houses have been demolished this year alone. “Those who went to Jammu to show sympathy to victims of demolitions have done nothing to regularize those very houses. The government has failed to take any concrete decision,” he said.
“Whether in Jammu, Kashmir, Chenab, or Pir Panjal, and regardless of religion—Hindu or Muslim—the poor who have lived on small parcels of land for 15, 20, or 25 years must be given ownership. We are talking about small homes—10 marla, 20 marla plots—that need to be legalized,” he said.
Demanding an immediate halt to demolition drives and forced evictions, the PDP leader questioned the efficacy of government schemes like ‘Land to the Landless’ if people already living on the land continue to face the threat of being rendered homeless. “People deserve to live peacefully in their own homes. That is our only purpose,” he further added. (KNS)
