At a time when the Opposition leaders are yet to recover from the shock of abrogation of Article 370, the Modi government in a clear cut statement of intent to fully integrate the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the country has modified new land laws for the Union Territory which paves way for outsiders to buy land in Jammu and Kashmir.
In a move that will finally bring much-needed development to the region, the Central Government, while notifying new lands laws for Jammu and Kashmir, has brought an end to the exclusive rights of locals over the land granted under the dead letter Article 370.
Under the new Act, the term “being a permanent resident of the State” as a criterion has been “omitted”, thereby allowing outsiders to purchase lands in the region – an attractive proposition for prospective investors.
The newly introduced J&K Development Act also states that land can be transferred in favours of a person or an institution for the purpose of promotion of healthcare or education.
“We want that like other parts of India, industries should be set up in J&K. My government is committed to peace, progress and prosperity,” said Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
The only limitation in the new Act is the purchase of agricultural land as it reads, “No land used for agriculture purposes shall be used for any non-agricultural purposes except with the permission of the district collector.”
Expectedly, the PDP and NC cried hoarsely as Abdullah and Mufti are being increasingly rendered useless.
“The amendments have put J&K up for sale. With these new laws in place, tokenism of the domicile certificate has been done away with, as purchasing non-agricultural land has been made easier. These new laws are unacceptable to people of J&K,” said Omar Abdullah.
PDP President Mehbooba Mufti was not to be left behind as she said, “Yet another step that’s part of nefarious designs to disempower and disenfranchise people of J&K. From the unconstitutional scrapping of Article 370 to facilitating loot of our natural resources and finally putting land in J&K up for sale. Such brazen measures reinforce the need of people of all three provinces of J&K to fight unitedly.”
The region of Jammu and Kashmir is finally moving forward and one hopes that the latest reforms result in the advent of much-needed development for the Union Territory.
