Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday accused LG Manoj Sinha administration of “importing slums and poverty” in the union territory.
Former Jammu and Kashmir CM Mehbooba Mufti said the various moves taken by the Centre in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 was an attempt to ‘unpeople’ the place.
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday accused LG Manoj Sinha administration of “importing slums and poverty” in the union territory.
She said under the pretext of providing housing to homeless people, the administration is trying to change the demography of the union territory.
"The LG made an announcement about giving land to 1.99 lakh landless people in JK. Doubts and concerns have come to the fore as to who these landless people in Jammu and Kashmir are. According to the figures of the central government placed before Parliament, there are only 19,000 homeless families in Jammu and Kashmir," Mufti said as per PTI report.
Earlier, LG Sinha led administration announced 150 square yard plots to landless families for the construction of their houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna (PMAY).
"Who are these two lakh families? Even if there are only five persons per family, it accounts for a population of 10 lakh," she said.
She asked the government why did it not give five 'marla' land to Kashmiri Pandits who have been living in Jammu in one-room sets for the past 30 years.
"There are thousands of Kashmiri Pandits living in Jammu. Did you give them 5 marlas? Why not?" she asked.
She alleged that Jammu and Kashmir and its resources, including land and jobs, were being treaty as a "war booty".
"Jammu and Kashmir is a green belt, they are turning it into a slum. Instead of improving the place, they are importing slums and poverty. The good thing is that jammu has started realising the dangers of this move. It will run over Jammu before reaching Kashmir," she said.
Mufti said by bringing in 10 lakh people from other parts of the country into Jammu and Kashmir, the government was trying to provoke the people of the union territory.
"When they bringing 10 lakh people from outside, why do they want to provoke people of Jammu and Kashmir?" she asked.
She said the people of Jammu and Kashmir should follow in the footsteps of Ladakh by resisting these attempts.
"Ladakh people have been demanding inclusion in the Sixth Schedule for protection of land rights and jobs. I salute the people of Ladakh for deciding to launch non-cooperation movement from July 15 against any investments in tourism. We will support the people of Ladakh," she said.
Mufti said the various moves taken by the Centre in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 was an attempt to "unpeople" the place.
"What you are doing is an attempt to unpeople Jammu and Kashmir. You are taking back leased property from locals and giving it to outsiders. It is surprising that the day SC decided to hear the petitions challenging the revocation fof Article 370, the next day you come up with this order of landless people. I appeal to the people of Kashmir and Jammu to unite and rise just like the people of Ladakh," she said.