Srinagar, Aug 21: Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor Monday slammed the mainstream parties for opposing land for the landless, accusing them of being behind the deaths of 50,000 innocent people.
These people are unable to tolerate peace because they oppose it. They were inciting people to support street violence and to see institutions and universities shut down. When speaking at a three-day national workshop on panchayat with good governance at the convention centre in this city, the LG remarked that these people were to blame for the deaths of 40,000 to 50,000 innocent people in J&K. But he avoided mentioning any one political figure or party.
Omar Abdullah, the vice president of the National Conference, recently questioned the identity of the landless and homeless people in J&K, and Mehbooba Mufti, the leader of the PDP, also questioned the distribution of land and housing to the “homeless.”The LG responded, “There was considerable clamour that land is being provided to non-J&K resident. I asked Sarpanchs, Panchs, BDCs, and DDC whether they could name a specific incidence where land or a home was provided to non-J&K resident under PMAY. Under PMAY, not a single non-J&K person has received land or a home, he claimed.
According to the LG, some individuals continue to inquire as to what has changed over the previous four years. They do not believe that peace would triumph in J&K. Street violence, which used to be common, has stopped, and schools and institutions are open all year. Early in the evening, people could be seen heading home, but as of late, restaurants and hotels are open till 10 p.m. On the Jehlum front, kids of all ages—boys, girls, and even seniors—spend time playing music or eating ice cream. This is the main difference, he said. This change is significant, in fact.
He claimed that individuals unable to accept peace continue to incite people under various pretexts to resurrect street violence.
The LG claimed that although there have been numerous national and international events hosted in Srinagar over the last four years, the one on Panchayati Raj today is the biggest.”I think Panchayats are where genuine governance happens. Every panchayat’s dream of having a village with strong governance will be realised, he added, noting that 30,000 initiatives are now under way at the panchayat level. “Funds, Function, and Functionary has been streamlined, and people are enjoying and reaping the benefits of the Panchayati Raj system,” the LG claimed.
