Srinagar, August 21: The Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir lashed out at the mainstream parties on Monday for opposing the land for landless movement, claiming that they are to blame for the deaths of 50,000 innocent people.
These individuals 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. According to news source Kashmir News Observer (KNO), “These people are responsible for the killing of 40,000 to 50,000 innocents in J&K.” The LG made the statement while speaking at a three-day national workshop on Panchayat with Good Governance at the Convention Centre here. But he avoided mentioning any one political figure or party.
Omar Abdullah, vice president of the National Conference, recently questioned who the homeless and landless people in J&K were, and Mehbooba Mufti, leader of the PDP, also questioned the distribution of land and housing to the “homeless.”
The LG said, “There was considerable clamour that land is being supplied to non-J&K resident. I asked Sarpanchs, Panchs, BDCs, and DDC whether they could name a specific incidence where land or a house was granted to non-J&K resident under PMAY. Under PMAY, not a single non-J&K person has received land or a house, he said.
According to the LG, some individuals continue to inquire as to what has changed over the last 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 remain open till 10 p.m. On the Jhelum 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 shift is significant, in fact.
He said that individuals unable to accept peace continue to incite people under various pretexts to resurrect street violence.
The LG said that while there have been several national and international events hosted in Srinagar over the last four years, the one on Panchayati Raj today is the largest.
“I think Panchayats are where genuine government happens. Every panchayat’s ambition of having a village with strong governance would be realised, he said, noting that 30,000 initiatives are now under progress 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 said.
