Mehbooba Mufti Urges Reevaluation of Land Allotment in Pulwama

PDP President Mehbooba Mufti urged Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to reconsider giving fertile land in Pulwama to the BSF for a security camp, as it impacts locals' livelihoods. Mufti insists on using infertile land instead and plans to discuss the issue with the defense minister.

Mehbooba Mufti, the leader of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), has called on Jammu and Kashmir's Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, to reassess the decision to allocate fertile land in Pulwama for a Border Security Force (BSF) camp setup. The land, located centrally within a village, is critical to the livelihood of many residents, she stated following a visit to Pochal village in Pulwama.

Accompanied by Pulwama's MLA, Waheed Para, Mufti emphasized the importance of protecting these lands from becoming security zones. "Chief Minister Abdullah has the authority to intervene on behalf of his people. There are alternative non-arable plots that could serve the BSF's needs," she argued, expressing her intention to address the matter further with the defense minister.

This development comes on the heels of the recently rejected land protection Bill proposed by the PDP, which Mufti claims was mislabeled as favoring land grabbers. She alleges that the failure of the Bill has led to increased demolitions, exacerbating fear among the local populace.

(With inputs from agencies.)