On Tuesday, after new laws were implemented in Jammu and Kashmir (J-K) that allow non-domiciles to own land in the regions, People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration, an amalgam of unionists fighting for pre-August 2019 status of J-K, strongly condemned the move and termed it a “huge betrayal” by Ministry of Home Affairs.
An official statement issued by Sajad Lone, the spokesperson for the alliance, said that this is a massive assault on the rights of the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh and grossly unconstitutional. “The Alliance has vowed to fight the anti Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh measure on all fronts,” he said.
Mr. Lone added that with a serious challenge to the 5th August 2019 decisions before the top Constitutional Court of the Country and the vires of Reorganisation Act under judicial scrutiny, the Central Government is under an obligation to desist from such acts, out of respect for the Apex Court.
Mr. Lone further added in the statement: “The repeal of Big Estates Abolition Act – first ever agrarian reform in subcontinent, is an insult to the sacrifices of thousands of freedom fighters and farmers who fought against an autocratic and oppressive rule and a crude attempt to rewrite history. The order made in exercise of powers under Reorganisation Act, 2019, it is stated, is yet another brazen violation of the principal of constitutional proprietary of fundamental importance to a constitutional democracy.”
“The unconstitutional measure is clearly designed as an attempt to preempt the outcome of the challenge before the Supreme Court. The assault on exclusive property rights apart, changes in urban development laws and creation of Security Zones is bound to prejudicially affect environment and ecosystem in environmentally fragile regions of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh in utter disregard of grave environmental concerns,” he added.
Earlier, former chief ministers of J-K, Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah, separately called the laws unacceptable that have put up “land in J-K up for sale”.
