Srinagar, Mar 18: Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) leader and MLA Pulwama Waheed Para on Wednesday hit out at National Conference (NC) leader Tanvir Sadiq, stating that land is peoples’ right and everyone knows who grabbed Srinagar’s prime government land.

“The bill aimed at granting ownership rights to people living on state land was rejected in the Assembly by the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference. Now they claim they will bring a new bill—we will see. InshaAllah, if it truly serves the people, we will support it.

The real issue is the problems faced by the people, especially the poor. Those living on state land—whether grazing areas, nazool land, or forest land—must be granted ownership rights over the land they have been occupying for years.

Some have claimed this bill benefits ‘land grabbers,’ but that is not true. When houses were demolished in Jammu, these same people went there to show sympathy, yet those houses have still not been regularized. In the Assembly, Mir Fayaz raised a question regarding demolition drives—around 1,500 houses have been demolished this year alone. Even after that, the government has not taken any concrete steps to grant ownership rights to common people so they can live peacefully in their homes.

Those who speak of ‘land grabbers’ are actually referring to wealthy and influential individuals. Everyone knows who owns land in Lal Chowk or properties like Nehru Hotel—these belong to powerful people. So when accusations are made against the poor, one must ask: are they referring to leaders like Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, or their associates?

If we start pointing fingers, we could question who has engaged in the most land grabbing in Jammu and Kashmir—whether in Gulmarg, Lal Chowk, or Gupkar Road. But our intention is not to indulge in blame games. Our purpose is clear: the people of Jammu and Kashmir are already suffering. At the very least, there should be consensus in the Assembly—whether National Conference or PDP—that people living on state land, grazing land, nazool land, or forest land—regardless of religion, in Jammu, Kashmir, Chenab, or Pir Panjal—should be treated fairly.

Those who have been living on such land for 15, 20, or 25 years, who had no land of their own and built small homes—these homes must be regularized. They should be granted ownership rights. We are not saying that all land should be regularized, especially large tracts accumulated by individuals. We are only asking that small residential plots—10 marla, 20 marla, or 25 marla—be legalized.

There are already schemes like ‘Land to the Landless’ and ‘House to House.’ But if people who already have homes on state land continue to face demolition, then what is the purpose? Demolition drives must stop, and forced evictions must end.

People deserve ownership rights over the land on which they have built their homes and lived for years,” said Waheed Para.

Srinagar, Mar 18: Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Chaudhary on Wednesday expressed hope that the judiciary will do justice with jailed MLA from Doda Mehraj Malik.

Malik, who is the AAP’s Jammu and Kashmir unit president, was detained under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) on September 8 2025, for allegedly disturbing public order and was subsequently lodged in the Kathua jail.

“We are hopeful that the judiciary will do justice in the case of Mehraj Malik as it did in Sonam Wangchuk’s case,” Chaudhary told reporters in Kulgam district.

The deputy chief minister asserted said his party had been against the detention of the environment activist right from the beginning of the case.”We are proud of the judiciary… what wrong did he (Wangchuk) do?,” he said.

On the matter of the ongoing war between Pakistan and Afghanistan, Chaudhary said the world leaders will have to end the wars to save the world for future generations.

“The conflict is not limited to one region, as more countries are fighting each other. Earlier leaders, like Vajpayee, spoke about peace. Even our president Farooq Abdullah says war is not a solution. The world leaders will have to stop the wars,” he said.

Srinagar, Mar 18: A few areas in the higher reaches of Kashmir received fresh snowfall, while rain lashed most parts of the Valley on Wednesday, leading to a drop in temperature, officials said.

Reports of fresh snowfall were received from Pir Ki Gali along the Mughal Road in Shopian district, and from Sonamarg, even as most mountains in the Valley remained covered by layers of snow.

The higher reaches of the Valley have been receiving intermittent snow since Sunday.

The plains, including Srinagar, were lashed by rain, which continued till the last reports came in on Wednesday, the officials said.

The wet weather has brought down the temperature across the Valley, with Srinagar recording a maximum of 14.9 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, more than one degree lower than the normal, the officials said.

The other weather stations across the Valley also registered below normal temperatures.

In the past few days, Kashmir has been experiencing colder days and warmer nights due to cloud cover.

The lower day temperature broke the trend of unusually high temperatures that prevailed in the Valley over the past few weeks.

The meteorological department has forecast erratic weather till March 20, with a possibility of intermittent light to moderate rain/snow at many places.

A few higher reaches in the Chenab Valley and south Kashmir may receive moderate to heavy snowfall, it said.

According to the weather office, another wet spell is likely from March 26-28 with light rain or snow at scattered places in the higher reaches.

There is a possibility of thunder/gusty winds, about 40-50 kmph, at a few places till March 20, with the possibility of hailstorms at isolated places, it said.

The MeT office has advised farmers to suspend farm operations till March 20.

Srinagar, Mar 18: Mughal Road, which was temporarily closed earlier in the day due to fresh snowfall, has now been reopened for light motor vehicles (LMVs), officials said on Wednesday.

According to SSP Traffic Rural, Farooq Qaiser, the restoration of traffic is subject to fair weather conditions at Pir Ki Gali.

Vehicular movement will be strictly regulated between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM as per the existing advisory, he said.

Commuters have been advised to drive cautiously and strictly adhere to traffic guidelines while travelling on the route. (KNC)