The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah, JKPC chief Sajjad Lone and former J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) President Ghulam Ahmad Mir on Thursday asked the government to come clean on the issue of “Home to Homeless”.

Omar Abdullah said that before providing land to the homeless, the Jammu and Kashmir Government should clarify which people it is counting as homeless. “Are those who arrived in J&K just a week ago also counted as homeless? I believe those who arrived in Kashmir after 2019 should not be included in the scheme. We are aware that the government has brought in a large number of outsiders to J&K since August 2019,” he said responding to a question by media on the sidelines of a function in Budgam.

He said that the government should first explain what yardstick it was employing to establish homelessness.

Responding to another question on the Union government's proposed implementation of the Uniform Civil Code, Omar Abdullah said, “The National Conference would not support any proposal that would harm the country's minorities. As of now, there is no concrete draft of a UCC for us to respond to.”

Omar said that the government also had to understand that when the laws of the country were being made after independence, at that time Jawaharlal Nehru and his colleagues talked about a uniform civil code for the country but the Sangh Parivar opposed it because “they did not want such a law. we will wait for what will be the proposals of the government and how we will take everyone together and as far as the question of the National Conference is concerned, we will not support any draft that harms the minorities.”

J&K People's Conference President, Sajjad Gani Lone, also strongly emphasized the need for the government to clarify the eligibility criteria for 'Land for Landless' scheme and restrict land allocation solely to the erstwhile state subjects of Jammu and Kashmir, without including any new domicile holders after August 5, 2019.

In a statement released to the news agency GNS, Lone expressed concerns regarding the eligibility criteria for land allocation to the landless and homeless in J&K and urged the administration to provide a clear and unequivocal clarification on the issue.

“Now that questions are being raised, it will be prudent for the state administration to make it clear whether providing land to the landless and homeless, comprises of only the erstwhile domicile holders pre-August 5, 2019. Per se, if lists have been framed prior to 2019, as asserted by the Rural Development Department, the list will not comprise any newcomers. Clarification is a must,” he said.

Lone further asserted that it is crucial to uphold the rights of the erstwhile state subjects of Jammu and Kashmir when allocating land to the landless and homeless. "To protect the interests of the local population, the government must clearly specify that no new domicile holders after August 5, 2019, should be included in the land allocation process”, he added.

Former J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) President Ghulam Ahmad Mir also asked the government to come clean on the issue of homes to homeless families and apprise people as to who is homeless and how they have been categorized.

The move is being considered another assault on J&K after downgrading it into two UTs. People are feeling threatened and apprehensive about their future given the misadventure and unexpected decisions of the BJP government from time to time.

Commenting on the new policy of home to homeless families in Jammu and Kashmir, Mir said the government should act in a responsible manner and explain as to who are the homeless families and how they have been categorized. "The aspirations of the people must be taken into consideration before moving ahead on this count," Mir said.

“We believe this policy has made people more restless because they are feeling that the move is another assault on J&K, which should not happen, so government must act in a responsible manner and avoid any further confrontation in J&K,” Mir said, adding, “There will be no compromises on rights, urges and aspirations of people in J&K, who are the victim of BJP’s vindictive policies.”

Meanwhile, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) while taking note of the “prompt” clarification by the government on the press conference about housing for the poor held by its president Mehbooba Mufti expresses dismay at the lingering lack of transparency in the process.

According to a party spokesperson, the main question of a sharp jump in the numbers of homeless ‘people’ from 1947 to 2021 to nearly two lahks ‘households’ remains unaddressed. PMAY has been in operation for decades in the state under different titles and a procedure has been in place which always was monitored by GoI itself from identification to execution levels.

The assistance would be given generally to the poorest landholders and in the case of people without land, there was a process in place to allot them land out of the community lands like Kahcharai, state land, Khalisa etc.

“The claim that two lakh identified households still remain homeless raises doubts about the sharp increase. Either the exercise is flawed or the intentions are suspect,” he said in a statement.

The spokesman said the latest announcement made at the highest level comes close on the heels of the allotment of tenements to non-local workers in Jammu. "Does any state in the country reciprocate this for thousands of workers, hawkers, and small vendors who move to the plains during winter?"

“It is, therefore, necessary for the government to come out with a detailed clarification on the process of identification of beneficiaries,” the statement added.

SRINAGAR — Former JKPCC chief Ghulam Ahmad Mir on Saturday said that the doors of the Congress party are open for everyone, even for Ghulam Nabi Azad.

Mir was responding to a query about rejoining of former Dy CM Tara Chand and others who, on Friday, rejoined Congress in New Delhi.

"We welcome all those who are secular and want to work with Congress. The party has not closed its doors to anyone. Even if Ghulam Nabi Azad Ji wishes to return to the party fold, we will welcome him again," Mir said.

Mir replied that Tara Chand and others who earlier resigned from the party were "inactive" for the last seven years but the party didn't take any action. "The resignation was their own will and they joined Azad-led group. However, after observing the affairs closely, they returned back into the party which was welcomed," he said.

SRINAGAR — Presidential opposition candidate, Yashwant Sinha on Saturday said that if he was elected, his priority will be to persuade the government to resolve the Kashmir issue permanently.

Addressing a press conference, Sinha, as per the news agency Kashmir News Observer, demanded the restoration of Statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and also said that free and fair Assembly elections must be conducted at the earliest.

“I am opposed to the forcible and manipulative changes in J&K. The Central government has failed to fulfil its promise to create an atmosphere for the safe return of Kashmiri Pandits. The promise must be fulfilled. J&K people have suffered a lot and their desire for peace must be fulfilled,” Sinha, who is campaigning for the presidential elections, said.

He said that if he is elected as president, one of his priorities will be to urge the government to take necessary steps to resolve the Kashmir issue permanently and restore peace, justice, normalcy, democracy and end the hostility towards J&K.

Sinha, who was accompanied by National Conference (NC) President Dr Farooq Abdullah, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Mehbooba Mufti, Congress leader Ghulam Ahmad Mir, and other political leaders said that for the second time, the people in J&K would not be able to participate in the presidential polls.

“My campaign would have been incomplete in case I could not have visited Kashmir. I get disappointed when I see the situation here, which is contrary to the government claims,” he added.

He also said that there is no state in the country where elections have not been conducted for the period of four years and where the people have been deprived of representation. “Jammu and Kashmir is facing injustice and only a limited number of people are knowledgeable about the fact that the limited democracy that existed in J&K has also been murdered.”

He said that his visit to J&K was to express solidarity with the people of J&K. “It is very regrettable that the Supreme Court has not even heard the case related to Article 370 and Article 35-A nearly three years after the Constitution was repealed,” he said, adding that long pendency of the case in the court erodes the credibility of the apex court.

SRINAGAR — Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president, Ghulam Ahmad Mir on Wednesday resigned from the post.

Sources privy to the development, as per the news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that Mir has submitted his resignation to the party after serving as the party's State unit chief for a period of eight years.

Mir has tendered his resignation to the All India Congress Committee (AICC).

While speaking about his resignation, Mir said that he has shot a letter to the AICC president and told her that he would respect any decision of the high command.

Meanwhile, JKPCC is all set to get its new chief shortly as the party has already completed the procedure and sought suggestions from the leaders. Four names have been put forth for the next JKPCC head.

SRINAGAR — After the abrogation of the semi-autonomous status of Jammu and Kashmir, the LG Secretariat for the first-time invited representatives of different political parties to have an interaction with the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday.

The meeting was purely about the arrangements and management of Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra. However, some participants raised issues related to people to which LG Manoj Sinha assured redressal.

Out of nine political leaders who participated in the meeting, eight were from Kashmir and one from Jammu. The participants included Dr Farooq Abdullah, Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami, Muzaffar Hussain Baig, Muzzafar Shah, Altaf Bukhari, GA Mir, Ravinder Raina, Hakeem Muhammad Yaseen and GM Shaheen. Peoples Democratic Party leader Mehbooba Mufti didn’t attend the meeting.

Divulging information about what transpired in the meeting, one of the participants said that Congress leader GA Mir, Apni Party President Syed Muhammad Altaf Bukhari and JDU Jammu Kashmir President GM Shaheen were more vocal during the meeting while others acted as mute spectators or talked spasmodically.

GA Mir raised the issue of the Srinagar-Jammu Highway complaining that commuters face hardships due to the massive presence of forces who frequently stop them from plying on the highway during the Amarnath Yatra period. LG assured him the matter will be sorted out and people won’t face any hardships.

Mir also requested the LG to allow people to visit Pahalgam who, according to him, are not permitted there after 2 PM. LG promised redressal to the issues raised by GA Mir.

While drawing the attention of the LG towards the sufferings of the people, who get stranded whenever there are landslides between Ramban and Banihal area on the Srinagar-Jammu Highway, Mir said that some vested interest elements exploit and loot the stranded passengers in absence of any government accommodation and arrangements. LG Manoj Sinha promised that make-shift camps will be installed near landslide-prone areas where the government will provide relief to the stranded passengers.

Mir also advised the LG to shun the ‘stick’ approach, saying the more the government spreads love and affection, the more the gap between people and the government will be reduced. Mir said that it is important to adopt a soft approach toward people to lessen hostilities and opposition.

All the leaders in one voice said that the people of Kashmir have always welcomed the Amarnath Yatris.

Syed Muhammad Altaf Bukhari also raised the issues related to people, urging the LG to take all measures so that locals don’t suffer on account of the Yatra.

JDU leader GM Shaheen said that during the 2008 Amarnath land row, the people of the Maisuma area of Srinagar city created community kitchens to feed pilgrims. He said the people of Kashmir have supported this Yatra even then when there were no security forces on the roads.

Shaheen urged the LG to allow Yatris to visit Srinagar city so that traders of the city will get benefited as well. He said Yatris should be allowed to take the Dalgate route also.

Shaheen also raised the issues of public importance including electricity. He suggested that such meetings should take place frequently so that gap between politicians and the government can be bridged.

Farooq Abdullah didn’t speak too much. He said the people of Kashmir have always stood by the Yatris. He said it is our responsibility to be hospitable towards the Yatris and no doubt people of Kashmir are known for their hospitality.

He shared his experience with the Yatra when he was the chief minister of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state.

JAMMU — The internal bickering within Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) refuses to die down as the party has issued show-cause notices to two former legislators, who share close ties with Ghulam Nabi Azad for not attending ‘Nav Sankalap Shiver’ at Patnitop.

Sources within the Congress party told news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that two separate notices were served to former MLA Vikar Rasool Wani and former MLC G N Monga for attending a private party in Srinagar instead of the party’s official programme in Patnitop.

The Congress leaders have been asked to clear their position within two weeks.

Sources said that some leaders from the Azad group camped in Srinagar and held a private lunch party.

This is not the first time that Azad and Mir group are at loggerheads. Earlier, 24 leaders including former ministers, former legislators and office bearers of the Ghulam Nabi Azad group revolted against the PCC chief Ghulam Ahmad Mir and resigned from their organisational posts.