Srinagar: In an apparent shift from political rivalry, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti Friday extended her party’s support to the National Conference (NC)-led government on safeguarding the land, job, and resource rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Mehbooba said her party would “unconditionally” support any legislative or administrative initiative by the government aimed at protecting the rights of locals, even as the region awaits restoration of full statehood.
“The government should come forward and bring a bill. We should together try to save our land, jobs and resources. The PDP is ready to extend its full support to the National Conference government on this issue,” Mehbooba said.
The statement comes amid debate over land ownership laws in Jammu and Kashmir, following the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35-A in 2019. Mehbooba said the PDP has already drafted the Jammu and Kashmir Land Rights and Regularisation Bill, 2025, also referred to as the ‘Anti-Bulldozer Bill’, which it plans to table during the upcoming Assembly session. “If the government doesn’t like our draft, let them bring their own. But something must be done till statehood is restored, we cannot stay silent as people lose their homes and livelihoods,” she added.
The PDP chief also criticised the allocation of land to outsiders “in the name of industrial development”, claiming thousands of kanals have been leased out with little benefit to local youth. “They say industries are coming, but where are the jobs? I don’t see much in Kashmir, perhaps Jammu can answer better,” she remarked.
Drawing attention to recent evictions in Samba, Mehbooba alleged that security forces had displaced the family of Asifa Bano, the eight-year-old girl raped and murdered in Kathua in 2018, from their forest grazing area. “What justice is this? If you can’t restore statehood immediately, at least stop displacing your own people,” she urged.
While commenting on global affairs, Mehbooba welcomed the ceasefire pact between Hamas and Israel, calling it “a reminder that peace cannot come through bloodshed but through dialogue.”
