Jammu and Kashmir: Omar government failed to protect land & dignity of people, alleges Mehbooba Mufti; targets over 'no concrete policy'

SRINAGAR: PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday accused Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah of failing to protect land and dignity of the people by sitting idle on Land Grant Rules, 2022, which has barred the renewal of the leases of hotels and other institutions, risking their eviction and government takeover.

She said her party will introduce Jammu and Kashmir Land Rights and Regularisation Bill , 2025, termed “Anti-bulldozer Bill", in the assembly session beginning on Oct 23 to undo the effects of the 2022 rules.

The proposed bill, the former CM, said, aims to regularise land holdings of individuals, families, and institutions who have been in continuous possession of the land for over 30 years, thereby granting them ownership rights, preventing arbitrary evictions, and ensuring social and economic stability across the state.

“Nearly 60 hotels in Gulmarg, including heritage establishments such as Nedous and Highlands Park, have received takeover notices from Gulmarg Development Authority ... The CM can take many decisions without citing interference from the LG, but he is doing nothing despite enjoying an absolute majority,” she told a presser.

The PDP chief said even after completing a year in office, the Omar government has not framed a policy on lease renewal and land regularisation, creating deep uncertainty that has hurt tourism, local employment, and investor confidence in Kashmir’s hospitality sector. “Despite repeated assurances to protect the land rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, no concrete policy or legal stance has been taken,” Mehbooba added.

In a separate presser, J&K assembly leader of opposition and BJP functionary Sunil Sharma accused the CM of talking only about restoring statehood. “Do you want statehood to become a tool to justify the killing of innocent Kashmiris?” Sharma asked.