SRINAGAR — Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti on Friday said her party will fully support the National Conference (NC) government in safeguarding the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir over land, jobs, and resources.
Addressing reporters, she said that while the government awaits the restoration of statehood, it should take steps it can to protect people’s interests.
“The government should come forward and bring a bill, and we should together try to save our land, jobs, and resources. The PDP is ready to provide its full support to the government on this issue,” Mehbooba said.
Referring to the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35-A by Centre in 2019, she said there has been growing insecurity among J&K residents regarding their land, jobs, and resources.
The PDP chief said the Jammu and Kashmir Land Rights and Regularisation Bill, 2025 — also called the Anti-Bulldozer Bill — which her party has submitted for discussion in the upcoming Legislative Assembly session. She urged the government either to support the PDP bill or bring its own legislation.
“If the government does not like our bill, let them bring a bill. Till statehood is restored, let them save whatever they can and provide some respite to people,” she added.
Mehbooba also alleged that thousands of kanals of land have been given to outsiders in the name of industrial development, while locals received only a fraction.
“How many industries have been set up, how many people have been employed so far? I do not see anything in Kashmir, but people in Jammu can better answer this,” she said.
She criticized the ease with which land is being allotted to security forces and questioned why local businesses cannot compete with corporate giants like Adani, Ambani, or Jindals.
“It is not just the hotels; Gupkar Road is also on lease. What will Omar sahib do tomorrow if his lease has ended? Will he leave everything? Similarly, other people have their homes, hotels. The government must do something on this,” she said.
Mehbooba also condemned the eviction of Asifa Bano’s family — the eight-year-old girl from a nomadic family who was raped and murdered in Kathua in 2018 — from Chichi Mata forest area in Samba, where they have grazed their flock for over 100 years.
“What justice is this? I want to request the government that while you wait for statehood, do what is in your hands till then,” she said.
She expressed hope that the Supreme Court will deliver a favourable verdict on the restoration of J&K’s statehood.
Mehbooba welcomed the ceasefire pact between Israel and Hamas, saying “I thank God for the ceasefire pact between Israel and Hamas by virtue of which the people of Palestine will have a sigh of relief.”
She added that it was a lesson for all that even an aggressive country like Israel had to come to the talks table.
“This is a lesson for all leaders across the world who think issues can be resolved though violence. Spilling blood cannot resolve issues, you have to finally come to the table,” she said. — (PTI)