Avinash Azad
In a surprising yet heartening development, a powerful wave of secular unity has swept across Jammu following a demolition carried out by the Jammu Development Authority (JDA) in Narwal. What first appeared to be another politically charged controversy quickly transformed into an extraordinary display of communal harmony that bridged religious and political divides.
The catalyst for this sentiment was a compassionate gesture from Kuldeep Sharma, a local resident, who offered land and financial support to the family of Arfaz Ahmed Daing—a social media reporter known for highlighting different issues on his Facebook page News Sehar India. Sharma’s act resonated widely, cutting through the tension that often grips the communally sensitive region.
The demolition, carried out on November 27, 2025, targeted the Daing family’s home, with the JDA alleging encroachment on its land. The family has strongly rejected the claim, insisting that they were unfairly singled out. As images and live videos of the dismantled structure circulated online, they drew immediate attention from political leaders, activists, lawyers and civil society members across Jammu and Kashmir.
Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Choudhary was among the first senior figures to visit the site. He strongly criticised the administration and called for an impartial investigation into the JDA’s action. Several local representatives echoed his demand. Yet, the most widely discussed moment of the day remained Sharma’s offer of five marlas of land and financial assistance to the Daing family. His gesture spread rapidly across social media and won widespread appreciation—particularly significant in a region where communal tensions often simmer just below the surface.
The development came at a time when online spaces had been witnessing polarised debates following a recent controversy over admissions at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence, where 42 Muslim candidates from Kashmir secured seats in a batch of 50. Critics had attempted to communalise the issue, straining the social atmosphere. Against this backdrop, Sharma’s act stood out as a powerful counter-narrative of shared humanity.
The ripples of solidarity did not stop in Jammu. People from Kashmir also joined in, with two businessmen reportedly offering Sharma a one-kanal plot in Srinagar, and another individual from Pampore pledging ten marlas of land in appreciation of his gesture. The administration’s action also pushed senior BJP leader and former party president Ravinder Raina to visit the site. Known for his acceptance across communities in J&K, Raina urged the JDA to clarify its position, reflecting the mounting public pressure.
Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah also condemned the demolition, describing it as “bulldozer politics” and seeking accountability from the Lieutenant Governor’s administration. Amid the political controversy and the Daing family’s distress, the public response revealed a powerful message: when humanity leads, divisive narratives lose their ground. In a region long burdened by communal polarisation, the Narwal incident has, even if briefly, rekindled faith in the secular ethos that binds the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
