Government land is not the personal fiefdom of any individual, political party, or officer. It belongs to the people of Jammu and Kashmir — the common public property meant for public welfare, development, and the greater good of society. No MLA, no minister, and no bureaucrat has the moral or legal right to occupy it illegally or allot it to cronies under the guise of “welfare.” Yet, certain elements continue to champion land grabbers, raising frivolous issues for cheap publicity and political mileage while misleading the masses. This betrayal of public trust demands uncompromising scrutiny.
The recent episode in Pulwama lays bare this dangerous game. Farmers in Padgampora-Dangarpora and Dangerpora areas rose in stout resistance against attempts to seize their ancestral agricultural lands, cultivated for generations. Protests echoed with resolve: “Touch our fields over our dead bodies.” PDP MLA Waheed Para joined symbolic paddy cultivation drives to highlight the threat to thousands of livelihoods. Such moves not only disrupt farming communities but erode the fragile trust built after years of peace and normalcy. Agricultural land is the backbone of rural Kashmir; converting or grabbing it under opaque pretexts serves no public purpose — it only fuels resentment and suspicion.
Similar controversies rage in Jammu over kahcharai (grazing) lands. These traditional common pastures have sustained Gujjar-Bakarwal communities and livestock for centuries. Anti-encroachment drives have retrieved state and grazing lands, yet political voices demand regularisation bills that critics argue would legalise illegal occupations. PDP’s push for property rights over state and grazing lands was firmly rejected by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who rightly termed it an attempt to legitimise land mafia activities. Past scams like the Roshni Act haunt memories, where influential figures allegedly grabbed vast tracts at throwaway prices, depriving the exchequer and genuine public needs.
Why do some MLAs persistently champion such causes? The answer is unflattering: cheap publicity and vote-bank politics. By framing eviction or retrieval drives as “anti-people,” they position themselves as saviours of the “common man” while conveniently ignoring that the real common man — the farmer, the shepherd, the taxpayer — suffers when public land is encroached or misused. Development requires land, but it must follow transparent rules, fair compensation where needed, and priority to genuine public projects like hospitals, schools, or industrial estates that create jobs, not private enclaves.
The ordinary Kashmiri has endured decades of conflict, propaganda, and broken promises. Post-2019, the focus shifted to peace, tourism, education, and anti-drug campaigns. Land is a finite resource in the Valley; its misuse threatens food security, environmental balance, and inter-community harmony. Allowing grabbers to thrive under political patronage revives old narratives of exploitation.
Authorities must uphold the principle that government land is sacrosanct public trust. Swift demarcation, retrieval of encroachments without political bias, and stringent action against influential violators are essential. MLAs owe allegiance to the Constitution and the people, not to land mafias. Rhetoric for publicity must yield to responsible governance. The public is watching; it will not be fooled again by those who cry “welfare” while protecting private greed.
Only accountable politics and transparent land management can safeguard this common heritage for future generations. J&K deserves leaders who build, not those who grab in the name of the people.
