Assures locals of taking up issue with Defence Minister
Jahangeer Ganaie
Pulwama, Dec 18 (KNO): Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday urged Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to immediately intervene in the proposed acquisition of fertile Karewa land in the Puchal and Lajurah area of Pulwama district for security forces, saying the move threatens the sole source of livelihood for residents and raises serious safety concerns.
Mufti, accompanied by PDP leader and MLA Pulwama Waheed ur Rehman Para, visited the villages of Puchal and Lajurah, where locals alleged that scores of kanals of prime agricultural land are proposed to be occupied by the Border Security Force (BSF) for the construction of a security complex.
Mufti, quoting residents, said the Karewas have sustained their families for generations and that losing this land would devastate their agrarian economy.
Interacting with villagers, the PDP chief, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said farming on the Karewas is not just an occupation but the backbone of survival for hundreds of families. She cautioned that setting up a security installation in close proximity to inhabited areas could also expose civilians to heightened security risks.
“Visited Puchal Pulwama, where fertile agricultural land close to the village’s inhabited area is being taken over for a security complex. For generations this land has sustained families, and placing such a facility so perilously close to homes creates not only serious security concerns but also deprives the villagers of their only means of livelihood,” Mufti said in a post on ‘X’.
Speaking to reporters, Mehbooba recalled that her party had introduced a land protection bill in the Assembly to prevent arbitrary and forced acquisitions. She expressed regret that the bill was rejected, adding that its rejection had emboldened authorities to intensify demolitions and acquisitions.
“Since the rejection of PDP’s land protection bill, demolitions have intensified, leaving people fearful and vulnerable. Our party believes that no one is a land thief. Unfortunately, when we raised this issue earlier, the bill was dismissed as a ‘bill for land thieves’,” she said.
The former CM said she will try from her side as well and will take up the issue with the Defence Minister.
Mufti urged CM Omar to shift the proposed project to barren or non-agricultural land. “@CM_JnK must intervene and shift the project to barren land, not fields that feed and sustain families,” she said.
Echoing similar concerns, local MLA Waheed ur Rehman Para said the proposed acquisition violates the rights of farmers and undermines consent-based development. “Snatching land and livelihoods without consent is unacceptable. The Chief Minister is duty-bound to protect farmers’ rights. This is precisely why the PDP land bill was crucial—to prevent forced land evictions,” Para said—(KNO)
