Srinagar
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha made strong remarks, accusing certain mainstream political parties of misleading the public on the issue of land allocation to landless individuals. Speaking at a national workshop on Panchayats and good governance, Sinha asserted that these parties were responsible for the deaths of around 40,000 to 50,000 innocent individuals in the region. Without explicitly naming any political party, Sinha criticized those who he believes are obstructing peace in the region and promoting street violence. He indicated that their actions aimed to close down educational institutions and provoke unrest. These parties, he implied, were spreading misinformation about the allotment of land to landless individuals, claiming that it was a political move to alter the demographics of Jammu and Kashmir. Sinha challenged the members of district development councils, block development councils, and Panchayat members to find a single case under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) where land was allotted to a non-resident of J&K. He emphasized that not a single non-resident had been provided land or a home under PMAY. Sinha also highlighted positive changes in the region, including increased peace, reduced street violence, and improved access to education. He mentioned that people now felt safer to be out after dark, with restaurants and hotels open late, and citizens enjoying leisure activities along the Jhelum front. These comments reflect the ongoing debates and tensions around land allocation and political narratives in Jammu and Kashmir.
