Srinagar: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Friday said her party is ready to extend full support to the National Conference-led government in safeguarding the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir over land, jobs, and resources.
She urged the government to act decisively even as the Union Territory awaits restoration of statehood.
“The government should come forward with a bill, and together we must protect our land, jobs, and resources. The PDP will give full support on this issue,” Mehbooba told reporters in Srinagar.
She said that since the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35-A in 2019, people in Jammu and Kashmir have lived under “a constant sense of insecurity” regarding their land and employment rights.
Referring to the Jammu and Kashmir Land Rights and Regularisation Bill, 2025 submitted by her party for discussion in the upcoming Assembly session, Mehbooba said the government should either help pass the PDP’s bill or introduce its own version.
The proposed legislation—also called the “Anti-Bulldozer Bill”—seeks to regularise land holdings of individuals, families, and institutions who have been in uninterrupted possession of such land for over 30 years.
“We have made a small beginning to address this crucial issue. If the government does not like our bill, let it bring its own. Till statehood is restored, they should do whatever they can to give people some relief,” the former chief minister said.
Mehbooba alleged that thousands of kanals of land had been allotted to outsiders in the name of industrial development.
“Only half of that has gone to locals. How many industries have actually been established, and how many locals have been employed? I don’t see any in Kashmir, though perhaps people in Jammu can answer better,” she remarked.
She also criticised the Centre for claiming that terrorism had ended while simultaneously making it easier to allocate land to security forces.
“Why can’t our hoteliers compete with Adani, Ambani, or Jindals? Even land on Gupkar Road is on lease—what happens if Omar sahib is told tomorrow that his lease has expired? Should he abandon everything? These are people’s homes and livelihoods,” Mehbooba said.
She further alleged that the family of Asifa Bano—the eight-year-old nomadic girl raped and murdered in Kathua in 2018—had been evicted by security forces from a forest area in Samba district.
“Asifa’s family, who have been grazing their livestock in the Chichi Mata forest area for over a century, were evicted yesterday. What kind of justice is this?” she asked, urging the government to act humanely until full statehood is restored.
Mehbooba also expressed hope that the Supreme Court would deliver a favourable verdict on the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood.
On international developments, the PDP chief welcomed the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
“I thank God for the ceasefire, which will bring some relief to the people of Palestine,” she said, adding that it should serve as a reminder that even powerful nations must ultimately choose dialogue over violence.
“This is a lesson for all leaders who believe issues can be solved through bloodshed. In the end, you have to come to the table,” Mehbooba said.
