Mohd Irfan
In a Debate hosted by the local newspaper with Dr. Tahir Choudhary who is a BJP Spokesperson and Dr. Gagan Bhagat who is affiliated with the NC, both leaders demanded that the drive should be against the influential people not against the poor ones.
Newspaper asks, “What do you say in respect of the present Anti encroachment drive which takes place in Malik Market and How do you see it as it has been said that the Government doing a selective demolition drive?
Dr. Tahir Choudhary reacted sharply by rebutting the assertions of selective demolition drive taking place in Malik Market adding, the fact of the matter is that in Bhatindi and in Sunjuwan not the people of the particular community resided there rather people irrespective of caste, creed, and color are residing therein and this to say that particular community being targeted that is a totally false, fabricated and blatant lie. Rather LG time and again reiterated that those who are small landholders are not required to be fear as they will not touch at all only those who grabbed huge chunks of land will be targeted.
Dr Gagan Bhagat: divulged that this demolition drive is being selected as a particular community being targeted which is not a good sign of governance in a Democratic country coupled with secular UT where in people of different religions live here in. This move of the government of targeting a particular community doesn’t augur well for the community as this has become the talk of the town that the government deliberately targeted this community. When the government day before yesterday demolished the MG showroom near this showroom, another showroom exists which is on state land but that does not touch for the sole reason that the individual has a ruling party had he been in the opposition party his showroom too have been razed to the ground. So, this is an excellent example of double standards on the part of the government in carrying on Anti encroachment drive and sparing the ruling party encroachers which is a really condemnable move of the government.
Elaborating further, Dr Gagan Bhagat went to the extent of saying that the present LG is not ready to listen to the local leaders and BJP leader Yudhvir sethi protested for the same that there is no accountability at all under the babu raj. Even BJP leaders also met the central High command in this regard that the LG not taken them into confidence before taking any action so one can conclude that see the functioning of the BJP government otherwise boasts claims of pro-Jammu as in Jammu we don’t get any development same has been in Kashmir.
Dr Tahir Choudhary took strong exception to the remarks of Dr. Gagan Bhagat that LG does not take BJP leaders into confidence adding, even though he has with him the personal contact number of the LG and if he makes a call to him he would pick up the same as such told Dr. Gagan Bhagat that you too once upon a time affiliated with the BJP but now you have changed your side that is something else. He said he too demands that the small landholders not be touched as it would be a very difficult rather Herculean task for these small landholders to build again their houses as such government needs to ensure that the small landholders shall not be touched otherwise it would be great destruction for them which they can’t build in their lifetime given the present compelling circumstances which are prevailing so far.
Dr Gagan Bhagat put the record straight by saying when posh colonies Channi himmat, Channi rama, and Sainik colony are being regularized then why not this Bhatindi and Sunjuwan be also regularized, he asked?
Dr Gagan Bhagat further lamented that the government in order to wreak vengeance on the particular community not regularized this Bhatindi and Sunjuwan and ultimately now the people are grappling with constant fear about their houses. He slammed the government that why selective drive he said when the railway track in RS Pura is encroached on by the BDC chairmen which is state land but the government has not retrieved from the encroachers this is a true fact and even it is really befuddling and baffling aspect this all is happening under the nose of SDM concerned and DC Jammu to whom I have lodged written complaints but no action whatsoever of any sort has been taken.
Even I request Dr Tahir Choudhary to take up the matter with the central High command of this demolition drive and he was quick to add as he also mentioned the drug menace in RS Pura where on account of unemployment youths of ages ranging from 18 years to 35 years fell addicted to the drugs spoiling their precious career. Even the Farmers of RS Pura are in distress adding, as they don’t get any type of compensation from the government as such they too are on the verge of starvation. There is total anarchy prevailing in this regime. There is a need to give protection to the whistleblowers and also talked about the Central RTI act 2005 whose second appeal is not in UT of JK and for filing a second appeal one doesn’t get its turn to be heard. So I, say our Jammu and Kashmir RTI Act 2009 was much better and more efficient which has brought a lot of transparency and accountability in the system.
Dr Tahir Choudhary said people in Bhatindi and Sunjuwan mostly are from peer panjal and Chenab valley as they shifted to Jammu on account of militancy and other Attenuating factors and now if the government resorted to a demolition drive that would spell doom for them as such LG should ensure that the land dwellers having land in possession of them to the tune of 5, 10 and 15 Marlas they should not be touched at all.
Journalist: “What did you say regarding yesterday’s incident of stone pelting in the Malik Market area during the demolition drive?
Dr Tahir Choudhary said that this is not a good way of resorting to stone pelting adding, the government is open for talks with the masses but the way stone pelting is being done by some miscreants is not good as miscreants are present in every protest as such protestors should chalk out ways and means of holding deliberations.
Faheem tak said Dr Tahir Choudhary and Dr Gagan Bhagat want that the poor shall not to be touched only those who are big encroachers they will take to task in terms of razing their structures.
