Avinash Azad
In a shocking revelation that exposes the J&K government’s blatant disregard for farmers’ rights, senior CPI(M) leader and MLA Kulgam, Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami, raised a serious concern during the Question Hour in the Assembly.
He alleged that a huge chunk of land—205 kanal—has been handed over to a former Sri Lankan cricketer in Kathua, while local farmers have been left high and dry without any compensation.
Tarigami, while addressing the media, lambasted the authorities for their dubious land acquisition policies. “A law was framed in 2013 to ensure fair compensation for farmers when land was acquired. There was a defined procedure in place, but now the law is being openly flouted. The government has forcefully taken land in Kathua, and instead of compensating the affected farmers, they are being pushed to the wall,” he said.
What makes the situation more alarming is that the land, which was classified as ‘common land’ until recently, was mysteriously reclassified as ‘state land,’ clearing the path for its allotment to an outsider. The government’s silence on this questionable transaction only adds to the suspicion of a larger conspiracy against local farmers and landowners in J&K.
“Why is the government selling our land to outsiders while slitting our throats? This land belongs to us, the people of J&K. The same pattern is being followed in Kashmir, where a township is being developed along the Ring Road. I ask the authorities: who is this township being built for?” Tarigami questioned, expressing grave concerns over the rapid shrinking of agricultural land in the region.
This revelation further fuels the growing resentment among J&K’s farmers, who are already grappling with land encroachments, dwindling incomes, and a lack of support from the administration. Instead of safeguarding the interests of farmers, the government seems determined to victimize them by facilitating the sale of land to outsiders.
The blatant violation of land laws and the systematic alienation of local farmers raise serious concerns about the real intentions of the administration. Is the government serving the people of J&K, or is it merely acting as a broker for external players with vested interests? The people of J&K demand answers, and the government must be held accountable for its anti-farmer actions before it’s too late.
