29-Mar-2024  Srinagar booked.net

PoliticsKashmir

Kashmir Unionists Jibe At LG Govt Over Bulldozer Justice

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Srinagar: Kashmir unionists jibed at the LG administration over the recent order of eviction/demolition/anti-encroachment drives on ‘state land’ stating that people must be given a chance to prove their claims as the bulldozers are coming to every house, complex and other structures without any notice. 

Earlier, The Himalayan Post exclusive reported on the confusion around the eviction/demolition/anti-encroachment drives in Kashmir and how the unclear official stance led to the sealing and unsealing of 25 shops at Aftab market in the heart of the Srinagar city’s Lal-chowk.

Jammu and Kashmir’s three major political parties including National Conference, People’s Democratic Party, and People’s conference on Monday strongly reacted over the drives while addressing three separate press conferences in Srinagar.

The ongoing demolition drives across J&K have triggered a wave of frustration and chaos among people, the LG which is directly ruled from New Delhi must make the bulldozer its last resort, former Chief Minister of the state, Mr. Abdullah said.

“Give people a chance to prove their claim and issue proper notices to the people,” he said adding that the National Conference was not against those who have grabbed ‘state land’ but a proper procedure must be followed.

“In J&K, Bulldozers are being sent everywhere to demolish houses, complexes,s, and buildings. But nobody knows what is the procedure and on what basis this demolition drive is being conducted,” he added.

“My sister approached the High Court over the proposed demolition of my Gupkar house but the government told the Court that the list making rounds in the media was “forged" and given the government's response in the court, I urge the government to make the genuine list of people who have grabbed the state land” he further said.

In many areas, Omar said “the ongoing demolition-cum-eviction drive is becoming a hub of corruption as I got many calls where people said that they are being told to pay 1 or 1.5 lakh rupees to remove their name from the list,” added.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President and former chief minister, Mehbooba Mufti stated that the use of bulldozers has made Kashmir worse than Afghanistan.

Addressing a Press conference, she said the anti-encroachment drive launched in Jammu & Kashmir is being used as a weapon to suppress the people as their livelihood of people is being affected.

“The LG government is trying to divert the attention from the main issue of Statehood, restoration of Article 370, and other things,” she added.

Moreover, Peoples Conference President Sajad Gani Lone accused the LG administration of creating homelessness, stating that New Delhi shouldn’t be represented by bulldozers in Kashmir, but by love and compassion.

“The objective of the ongoing eviction drives seems like the humiliation of Kashmiris and not the land retrieval,” he said.

Lone further said that the current administration in J&K is not an elected regime and should leave bigger decisions for an elected government.

 “(President’s Rule) It is a temporary arrangement. They cannot take decisions on behalf of the people of J&K. They cannot take all decisions. They are not elected by the people,” Lone told reporters.

(KNO)