Srinagar, Apr 01: National Conference (NC) chief spokesperson and MLA Tanvir Sadiq on Wednesday defended the private member’s bill on land grants, stating that it seeks to provide legal clarity to persons who have lawfully acquired land, while accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of misleading the public on the legislation.
Speaking to reporters outside the assembly, MLA Sadiq as per Kashmir Convener said the bill was admitted in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly without initial opposition from either party. He alleged that both parties later changed their stance, with Leader of Opposition (LOP) Sunil Sharma coming under pressure to react, and PDP leaders raising issues unrelated to the bill.
“Today it has been proved that BJP and PDP are alike. When the bill was admitted, neither of them objected,” MLA Sadiq said.
The private member’s bill pertains to the Jammu and Kashmir Land Grants Rules, 2022, and addresses matters related to lease renewals and the legal status of land held by existing occupants. MLA Zadibal clarified that the legislation was not concerned with encroachments but was intended for those who had acquired land through legal means.
“The bill pertains to the Land Grants Act and is meant for those who have legally acquired land, whether in Jammu, Kashmir, Gulmarg or Pahalgam,” he said. “This is a significant bill. It is not about encroachments. We are not talking about those who have illegally occupied land, but those who have acquired it through legal means.”
He added that the legislation also sought to establish a framework for future decisions, including the allocation of land to the landless. MLA Sadiq accused sections of the opposition of attempting to create confusion by linking the bill to unrelated matters such as daily wagers.
The bill, introduced earlier in the Assembly, has sparked a political debate, with opposition parties raising concerns over its provisions. The NC has maintained that the legislation is aimed at providing legal sanctity to lawful land holdings and addressing ambiguities arising from the 2022 rules he further added.
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