Aman Zutshi
In an exclusive interview with JK Media group former Jammu and Kashmir’s Chief Minister and National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah said before the assembly elections that was rescheduled to May 25 yesterday by the ECI asserted that after assembly elections domicile law will surely change.
He said that if elected to power their govt will alter domicile law and will protect land, jobs of Jammu and Kashmir people.
Answering a media query about the 2019 aftermath, which converted erstwhile J&K state into two UTs and recent elections held in the UT, ‘It is a big election after 2019 earlier Municipal elections then DDC elections were held in J&K, but this is the first parliamentary election here. We also know that soon after the parliamentary elections the ECI will conduct assembly elections. The results of this election will directly impact the assembly elections. The map of J&K, political reality has altered and even the map of constituencies have changed. It is a new era that is going on for us and we are all learning something novel from this”.
When asked about the Omar’s election campaign and its response from people, he said, ”People are very upset because of August 5 decision and there is fear, resentment as what will happen with their identity, pride, land in future. There is a big fear among people here of land grabbing by govt on which they have land ownership, unemployment of their children. Nothing special has been done by the govt for the youth employment and there are also apprehensions that how more jobs will be produced for the local youth in future. People want to give their views on August 5 verdict because after it people have generally remained silent. They didn’t protested on roads and neither disturbed law-order situation but they kept their anger inside. I think the people were waiting for the elections to show that they are not with the August 5 Parliament’s decision and they don’t consent for it.
Answering a question about opposition leadership claim that people will reply to the incumbent govt for their decisions on J&K during Municipal elections, Omar added, “But this has happened as the opposition parties which opposed the reading of special status were the ones who faced the backlash of govt. Later, the Raj Bhawan sold and bought mandate of people. If people are not happy with the scrapping of J&K’s special status then they will elect such a candidate who will speak in the parliament on their behalf for the special status”.
When quizzed about the Home Minister Amit Shah’s claim that no one’s land, jobs are being snatched in J&K, Omar replied, “Outsiders are contesting elections in J&K and we have witnessed this. This is the first time that is happening here and this is just a beginning. The public in Jammu and Kashmir is worried about their land”.
Omar on Ladakh agitations, “Why there are agitations that is going in Ladakh because people are perturbed as they believe their culture, cultural identity, land is in danger and only Kashmiri leadership is not saying anything about this matter, but Jammu based leaders are also talking about Ladakh protests. They celebrated the abrogation of Article-370 and they are now perturbed”.
“What kind of protection the govt has provided to the residents of Jammu and Kashmir as comparatively in the entire country we have very weak laws of domicile because anyone can settle here and there is no safeguard to it. The domicile law will surely change after the assembly elections and we will promise people about this that we will alter domicile laws and will protect land, jobs of Jammu and Kashmir people, like Himachal Pradesh, Lakshadweep, Gujarat, North-eastern states where it is not easy to buy land but there is no such prohibition on land purchase in J&K. Anyone can come and settle here. In these states there is law that protects their land and we will also make for Jammu and Kashmir.
