SAHIL BHAT
OCT 28: Asserting that the ‘Bill will open floodgates for land grabbers’, the CM Omar Abdullah dismissed a private members’ bill seeking to mandate the proprietary right of houses constructed on the State land.
It is learnt that the Bill was moved by the PDP MLA Waheed Para on Tuesday and was rejected by CM Omar Abdullah claiming that this will unleash floodgates for land grabbers.
Notably, the bill entails to impart special provisions for residents of UT for recognizing the proprietary rights of houses constructed on State land, Kacharia land, Common land and Shamilat land (section 4 of J-K Agrarian Reforms Act, 1976), by securing the rights of ownership or transfer in favour of the residents of such residential house owners, who are in possession of such land in the interest of right to shelter as guaranteed by Article 21 of the Constitution of India and for the matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
The Government opposed the Bill and urged MLA Para to withdraw it.
In retaliation, CM Omar Abdullah said, “In the previous time, the Government made a scheme to convert leasehold into freehold known as Roshni (scheme) with an idea to grant freehold to those who had leasehold before militancy.”
He said the then PDP-Congress Government eliminated the pre-militancy clause.
CM Omar said, “There was a controversy and process was termed as ‘land jehad’. The matter was referred to Court and we failed to defend it there. This proposal is beyond the Roshni scheme. We cannot do this and there is a provision of granting land to the landless people under PMAY. So, I request the member to withdraw the bill.”
At this, Para said “If you are willing to give land to landless under the PMAY, will you render homeless those who are already living on the State land.”
“The problem does not restrict to one area, but to entire J&K. You have a legacy of (National Conference founder) Sheikh Abdullah to live up to,” MLA Para said.
Responding to that, the CM said the PDP never owned NC’s legacy “however, today he is remembering it.”
Para added, “The bill would also benefit the chief minister’s relatives, whereat CM Omar Abdullah said, “My relatives were not illegal occupants, they had lease.”
