Last Updated on November 2, 2020 at 11:57 am
The new land laws in the UT of J&K by the order of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) are being celebrated by the migrants of other states who are working in the region. The new land laws state that any national of India can now buy non-agricultural land in the UT.
One of these happy faces is of Madan Lal Rai who is from Muzaffarpur district of Bihar. His family has been living in Jammu since 1977, when his father, an Indian Railways employee, was transferred here. Madan is married with two kids who study in a school in Jammu. Finally after so many decades, he can now buy land and settle in Jammu.
This is not the story of Madan Lal but thousands of others who couldn’t buy accommodation in Jammu even though they had resources to do so.
Some property dealers told India Today that they have been approached by many people from other parts of the nation for purchase of flats and land in Jammu. This surge in public inquiries could be dedicated to the new notification issued by the MHA.
However, along with the jubilation of people of other states, the new land laws also attracted politics. Recently, seven parties in Kashmir formed “People’s Alliance for Gupkar declaration” with former National Conference patron Farooq Abdullah as its president and People’s Democratic Party leader Mehbooba Mufti as its vice-president. The alliance’s main purpose is to restore article 370 and 35A.
The alliance has opposed the new land law as it goes against their dream of restoring the pre-5 August 2019 era.
BJP has fully supported the new land laws and said that it will help Jammu and Kashmir to better integrate with the nation. Last week, The J&K Panthers Party, PDP, NC, Congress and J&K Apni Party even organized protests against the new land laws.
There is not any single opinion on the new land laws by the civil society in the Jammu region. While some groups have welcomed the move others have called it against the interests of the local population.
Ankur Sharma, chairman of Ikkjutt Jammu told that he welcomes the move of the Central government wholeheartedly. Chairman of Team Jammu, Zorawar Singh, said that he is supportive of the move and will welcome any step taken by the government for the industrial growth and overall development of J&K.
