The ongoing demolition drive against alleged encroachers of government land has triggered a chaos in Jammu and Kashmir, former chief minister Omar Abdullah said on Monday, adding that bulldozers should be the last resort in such exercises. The National Conference vice president said his party was not against recovering the state land, but a proper procedure should be followed.
“Give people a chance to prove their claim and also issue proper notices to those having illegal possession of state land,” he said, addressing a press conference in Srinagar.
Abdullah said there is chaos everywhere as bulldozers are being sent to demolish houses, complexes and other buildings. “But nobody knows what the procedure is and on what basis this demolition drive is being conducted,” he said.
The NC leader said his sister Safiya Abdullah had approached the high court after they found that their residence at Gupkar Road in Srinagar was also in the list of properties to be demolished. The government, however, told the court that the list doing the rounds on media was “forged”.
“Given the government response in the court, I urge the government to make public the genuine list of people who have grabbed state land,” he said.
The former CM said the government must issue a proper notice to the land grabbers and give them at least six weeks’ time to prove their claim. “In our case, my sister produced the documents before the high court showing that the lease of Gupkar house is still active and has some more years to expire,’’ he said.
“Others should also be given time to present the documents and let the revenue team verify the same,” Abdullah said, adding that bulldozer can be used if, after proper verification, anybody is found in illegitimate possession of land.
The NC leader further alleged that the ongoing drive is aimed at creating a wedge between communities.
He claimed that NC leader Ali Muhammad Sagar's property at Humhama in Budgam was demolished without any notice. “There is a procedure that if the person doesn’t receive the notice, the same is pasted on the gate,” he pointed out.
Abdullah said the officials accompanying bulldozers at Nedous told his kin that they had pressure from the top and had to do something to show their bosses.
He further alleged that in some areas the drive is breeding corruption. “I got many calls from people who claim that they are being told to pay Rs 1-1.5 lakh to get their names removed from the list,” he said.
Abdullah also said that the NC MPs will try to raise the issue in parliament.
