Srinagar, April 1: Sajad Gani Lone, the president of the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference and a legislator from Handwara, has sharply criticized a private member bill presented in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly. He labeled it as favoring the “super elite” and argued that it offers nothing for the impoverished.
In a post on the social media platform X, Lone expressed that the Chief Minister allowed the introduction of the private member bill without any opposition from the government. This bill pertains to extending leases on government land that have expired. Lone estimated that the value of some of the most expensive real estate in Kashmir involved in this bill could range from ₹70,000 crore to over ₹1 lakh crore.
He raised the question, “What does this bill offer to the poorest people in Kashmir?” Lone pointed out that millions of impoverished families live in homes built on 2 marla, 3 marla, or at most one kanal of land. They face daily harassment yet have been powerless for decades. Are they not entitled to any benefits from this bill?
Lone clarified that he is not entirely against the bill but emphasized that its advantages are limited to the wealthy class. He raised these concerns in the Assembly but received no answers. He posed two critical questions: How much of the total government land (in kanals) has been leased out? How much have lessees paid in lease amounts so far?
He urged the government to provide relief to the poor, landless individuals, and small shopkeepers who have acquired land or shops from government or semi-government agencies. He stressed that reforms should first benefit the poorest, followed by the poor, the middle class, and finally the elite.
This bill was introduced by a legislator from the National Conference and impacts the 2022 Land Grants Rules. Under these rules, expired leases can be reissued through auctions, and the bill allows existing lessees to extend their leases.
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