Vows support for people-friendly bills only
Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday affirmed that his government would oppose any legislation favoring the land mafia or individuals involved in illegal land occupation.
The Chief Minister, while reacting to the rejection of the land bill, said that the government will not support any legislation that benefits the land mafia or those occupying land illegally.
“I will not harm the people of Jammu and Kashmir through my government. Any bill that benefits the common people will be supported, but those meant to help illegal occupants will not be passed,” he said.
Replying to a query, the Chief Minister said, Omar said that supporting in the Rajya Sabha elections doesn’t mean the government will accept any bill that doesn’t suit the people. “I am not ready to sell the land of Jammu and Kashmir for a seat in Rajya Sabha. The government will support any bill that is aimed at providing benefits to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Any bill to benefit the land mafia will not be passed by this government,” he said.
Earlier, the Jammu & Kashmir Assembly disallowed the introduction of a private member bill by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member, Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra on “The Jammu and Kashmir (Regularization and Recognition of Property Rights of Residents in Public Lands) Bill, 2025.”
The Chief Minister argued that the government cannot legitimize illegality.
The Chief Minister, who also holds the Revenue portfolio, stated that the government cannot grant ownership rights to individuals who are in illegal possession of land and have constructed houses on it.
“How is it possible to legalize state land for those who have illegally occupied it and built houses on it? How can such an act be justified? Nowhere is it stated in the bill that if someone has already occupied state land and constructed a house, it should be legalized. This bill seems to convey that one can simply occupy land, build a house, and get it registered in their name,” Omar said.
He reiterated that the government cannot grant ownership rights to individuals who have illegally occupied state land and constructed houses on it. Omar said the government cannot accept the bill and urged the member to withdraw it.
Parra, however, countered him, saying he was retreating from his legacy.
“He is forgetting that he is the grandson of Sheikh Abdullah – the leader we call Sher-e-Kashmir -who introduced the land-to-the-tiller reform. The biggest issue in Jammu and Kashmir after August 5, 2019, has been land. Before that, if someone lived illegally on state land, it was considered safe. But now, state land -which belongs to the people – has been turned into non-state land,” he said.
“It is the legacy of Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah -the land-to-the-tiller reform. If you withdraw from it, you are abandoning your own politics, your own promises, and your own policies. Should we then accept the BJP’s claim that this is ‘land jihad’?” Parra asked.
Parra alleged that bulldozers were used against Muslims in Jammu.
Countering him, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah accused him of dragging religion, region, and politics into the issue.
“Let us assume that bulldozers were used against them due to political reasons. Even then, I wouldn’t bring such a bill just to save them. A bill that is wrong is simply wrong. This is not a question of someone’s relatives, nor is it about someone’s religion. You are dragging religion, region, and politics into this. You are throwing justice out the window,” the Chief Minister said.
Later, the Speaker put the bill to a voice vote. Only two PDP members supported its introduction, while other members opposed it.
