Excelsior Correspondent
ANANTNAG, Nov 16: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti today slammed the Government for forcible eviction of ‘Gujjars and Bakarwals’ from their pastures under the garb of new land laws.
While interacting with Gujjars and Bakarwals at Lidroo village in South Kashmir, Mehbooba lambasted the ruling dispensation over its ulterior motives to hound the depressed communities of Jammu and Kashmir.
“The Gujjars have been using log and mud sheds in pasture lands since times immemorial during the grazing season. They are part of the forest and our environment. Sadly, a drive has been launched to demolish these structures which they use as temporary shelters during summers. Does this mean that these nomadic tribes can no longer go to pastures?,” asked the former Chief Minister.
She asserted that as already reported in the media, the Government has requisitioned – 24000 kanals of Forest land for setting up industries there. She said it will be a disaster for not only the forests and environment but also render the Gujjar community homeless.
The PDP president said that the illegal and immoral assault on Gujjar and Bakarwal population is a wake-up call for all of us and that the dislocation has begun with them and it will hit all of us. “I call upon the Government to immediately stop this illegal encroachment and harassment of a marginalized and most vulnerable community, who will do everything to peacefully resist this and defend their rights,” she said.
Mehbooba said that August 5, 2019 was not an event but beginning of a process of complete disempowerment and displacement of the people of J&K and that the process has been unfolding in parts with most of the new laws targeting land, resources and population of J&K and Ladakh.
“The land laws have thrown wide open the most vital resource of the region which is their land. The scenic beauty of the state is a vital input into its economy, which with new influx will be a sure casualty and with the plans of opening industries on a large scale, Kashmir could look no different from Gorakhpur,” said the PDP president.
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