Jammu, May 13: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Bahu constituency Vikram Randhawa on Wednesday accused the National Conference (NC)-led J&K government of “encouraging encroachment on state and forest land, including the land around Mohmaya temple in Jammu.”
Leading a protest demonstration against alleged encroachments around the temple, Randhawa alleged, “As and when the National Conference government came to power, it opened all routes for encroachments and gave a free hand to encroachers.”
“The members of a particular community and from a particular region have been encroaching upon land in Jammu under a well-hatched conspiracy, in connivance with the elected government. The Governor and LG rules have been an exception, as during their tenure, such illegal acts would have witnessed a brief halt. Following the 2008 agitation, some encroachers, out of fear, had run away,” he claimed.
BJP MLA alleged that the encroachers in the recent past started occupying forest land all around Mohmaya temple under a fresh encroachment bid.
“The most staggering fact is that instead of removing encroachments, the encroachers have been provided with power, water and internet connections. Who is in the government facilitating the encroachers? Why is the Chief Minister ignoring it? I’ve raised this issue in the recent assembly session (budget session). 95 percent of Jammu land, whether it is state land, JDA, forest or Ghacharai land has been encroached by the people of a particular region- Kashmiri speaking people,” Randhawa reiterated his allegation.
He questioned why action was not being taken against the encroachers.
“List of encroachers is in the public domain. Everyone knows – who is an encroacher? The Chief Minister may be a good person; a good runner and a golfer but is proving to be an inefficient Chief Minister. As your (CM’s) party has been completely routed in this region; you (CM Omar) are taking revenge for it from the people of Jammu. But mind it, the people of Jammu, its MLAs will fight till their last breath for every inch of its land,” Randhawa said.
Asserting that he and his electorate won’t resort to violence yet the encroachers and their supporters would not take it as their (MLA and his people’s) weakness.
Taking a dig at the Jammu Development Authority (JDA) and the forest authorities, he alleged, “JDA and forest people don’t reach where their lands have been encroached. But they harass people where the people are constructing on their own lands as recently it has happened in case of villages along Ring Road. The houses – constructed by people on their own lands – were demolished there.”
Taking another dig at the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and his party, Randhawa stated JDA was under the charge of the Chief Minister but the latter had no time to look after its affairs.
“Why is he (CM) sleeping? He should better stop participating in marathons or playing golf. He is talking about liquor (ban) which does not come under his jurisdiction. He should better start governing UT of which he is the elected Chief Minister,” BJP MLA stated.
Asking the members of Jammu civil society to join the movement against encroachers, he maintained that he was not giving a political colour to the issue.
“None is encroaching land in Jammu. None should be allowed to encroach land in Jammu. If any person from Kashmir buys a land here to settle, he will be our neighbour and we will do everything to protect his rights but not those of encroachers,” Randhawa said.
BJP MLA threatened that if the administration did not disconnect water and power connections to the alleged encroachers, he would intensify protest and the (administration) would be responsible for the consequences unfolding thereafter.
“Don’t try to obstruct our path. We will not resort to violence. That (Mohmaya temple) is our sacred place. We will not allow encroachments around it. Get the encroached land cleared of the encroachers,” Randhawa asked the Police officers, who tried to prevent him from proceeding towards Sidhra.
