The People’s Democratic Party held a protest on Wednesday (January 18) against the LG administration of Jammu and Kashmir. The protest was held in PDP’s Srinagar office at the Sher Kashmir Park. Party members were demanding the rollback of government order regarding the retrieval of state land held by people in the Union territory.&nbsp;

The Youth General Secretary of PDP Mohit Bhan was leading the protests and demanding the government to roll back the order. “The government’s directive is against the poor people who will be rendered homeless if this order is implemented on the ground. It’s totally inhuman,’’ said Bhan.&nbsp;

Most of the regional political parties like PDP, National Conference and People’s Conference&nbsp; in the Union Territory are against the government order&nbsp;and have expressed their disappointment over it. &nbsp;

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“This whole idea of retrieving state land in rural settings is dangerous. When will these insane experiments backed by ugly muscularity end? Occupation of state land in villages by inhabitants is a generational practice and an irreversible reality. This practice is prevalent in the rest of the country. A sizable percentage of the population is involved. You can’t make them homeless,’’ said Sajad Lone, People’s Conference.

“The National Conference is very clear that encroachments are not acceptable, but state land belongs to the people. If the government has passed an order, do they have any alternative for these people. SC judgement is two cases recently called for an alternative for the people until such steps are taken. It is totally wrong and harassment of locals. Sometimes I wonder if the BJP is really going to fight elections in Jammu Kashmir, they have such anti-people approach here. And let’s be very clear that this order is going to affect the poor people of the Union territory. The rich might find ways to fight the order, it’s the poor who will suffer the most,’’ said Ifra Jan, spokesperson, National Conference.&nbsp;

However, the BJP has welcomed the order of retrieving the government land. They have called it a step which is pro-poor people of the Union Territory.&nbsp;

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‘’Retrieving of land must start from the Nawa e Subh complex, Khidmat Trust, 32 former ministers, and other land sharks. There should be no mercy for looting state land, the government must ensure stern punishment to land grabbers. It is good that UT administration has asked all the Deputy Commissioners to remove all encroachments from state and community (Kahcharai) lands. It is surprising that most of the land grabbers are those who ruled the state. May it be the National Conference (NC), Congress and People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Even senior leaders of these political parties including Chaudhary Zulfikar and Sajad Ahmad Kitchloo are named in the list, ‘’ said Altaf Thakur, senior BJP leader and party’s J&amp;K spokesman.&nbsp;

The People’s Democratic Party held a protest on Wednesday (January 18) against the LG administration of Jammu and Kashmir. The protest was held in PDP’s Srinagar office at the Sher Kashmir Park.

The People’s Democratic Party held a protest on Wednesday (January 18) against the LG administration of Jammu and Kashmir. The protest was held in PDP’s Srinagar office at the Sher Kashmir Park. Party members were demanding the rollback of government order regarding the retrieval of state land held by people in the Union territory. The Youth General Secretary of PDP Mohit Bhan was leading the protests and demanding the government to roll back the order. “The government’s directive is against the poor people who will be rendered homeless if this order is implemented on the ground. It’s totally inhuman,’’ said Bhan. Most of the regional political parties like PDP, National Conference and People’s Conference in the Union Territory are against the government order and have expressed their disappointment over it. Also read |India’s Supreme Court seeks Centre’s view on criminalising marital rape “This whole idea of retrieving state land in rural settings is dangerous. When will these insane experiments backed by ugly muscularity end? Occupation of state land in villages by inhabitants is a generational practice and an irreversible reality. This practice is prevalent in the rest of the country. A sizable percentage of the population is involved. You can’t make them homeless,’’ said Sajad Lone, People’s Conference. “The National Conference is very clear that encroachments are not acceptable, but state land belongs to the people. If the government has passed an order, do they have any alternative for these people. SC judgement is two cases recently called for an alternative for the people until such steps are taken. It is totally wrong and harassment of locals. Sometimes I wonder if the BJP is really going to fight elections in Jammu Kashmir, they have such anti-people approach here. And let’s be very clear that this order is going to affect the poor people of the Union territory. The rich might find ways to fight the order, it’s the poor who will suffer the most,’’ said Ifra Jan, spokesperson, National Conference. However, the BJP has welcomed the order of retrieving the government land. They have called it a step which is pro-poor people of the Union Territory. Also read | Indians view US as second significant security threat ahead of Pakistan, shows survey ‘’Retrieving of land must start from the Nawa e Subh complex, Khidmat Trust, 32 former ministers, and other land sharks. There should be no mercy for looting state land, the government must ensure stern punishment to land grabbers. It is good that UT administration has asked all the Deputy Commissioners to remove all encroachments from state and community (Kahcharai) lands. It is surprising that most of the land grabbers are those who ruled the state. May it be the National Conference (NC), Congress and People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Even senior leaders of these political parties including Chaudhary Zulfikar and Sajad Ahmad Kitchloo are named in the list, ‘’ said Altaf Thakur, senior BJP leader and party’s J&K spokesman.

Regional parties in India's J&K protest against govt's state land retrieval order, BJP supports it

Separatist-turned-mainstream politician Sajjad Lone Sunday said his party, People's Conference, favours constructive engagement for resolution of the<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/jammu-and-kashmir-becomes-first-state-to-have-a-law-banning-sextortion-184134"> Kashmir</a> problem for lasting peace in the region. <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/presidents-rule-imposed-in-jammu-and-kashmir-185375">Jammu and Kashmir</a> Assembly has a role to control the situation but the solution is not available with our assembly. At the political level, it is the central government which has a bigger role and then it spans across the Line of Control (LoC) as well.

We are in favour of it and it should be done through constructive engagement, Lone told reporters while welcoming several prominent persons to his party fold here.

The people who joined Lone's party included former MLA Zanskar Syed Mohammad Baqir Rizvi, Peoples Democratic Party's additional spokesperson, lawyers Abrar Ahmad and Irfan Inquilabi from Poonch and Ashish Pandita.

He said that the state assembly does not have the power to resolve the Kashmir issue.

"If I promise you a solution of the conflict on the basis of a vote which is inadequate to resolve it, it will tantamount to lying (to the people). This is beyond the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly as the provincial government has a limited role to control the symptoms, which is violence," said the People's Conference leader, flanked by former minister Imran Ansari.

He said that the People's conference is not against the constructive engagement or dialogue to resolve the issue.

The constructive engagement of any sort on the conflict is not a substitute to reach out to the people of the state. Two measures are there to address any conflict— the operational, which the Army and the police are taking care of and the second one is structural which is not based on dialogue alone," he said.

He said the central government should have a long time strategy on reaching out to the J&amp;K people across the state.

"When I say reach out, it does not mean economic doles, it means engaging and removing the mistrust and when you speak about the conflict resolution, you never talk in days and years but it takes decades. The state assembly has a six-year tenure while the conflict resolution takes decades," he said.

Replying to a question about the lack of measures by the BJP-led government at the Centre to address the Kashmir problem, Lone shot back, "Why only five years, let us talk about 15, 20 and 25 years. I am saying there should be a long time strategy. The Manmohan Singh-led government have done no wonders. What type of dialogue or engagement he held? The working group were formed and I prepared a roadmap under the name of 'Achievable Nationhood' on their direction but they refused to acknowledge it. Instead, it was shelved."

Referring to the roundtable conferences and working groups, he said, "Roundtable was meant to be with separatist but the PDP went under the table and pleaded that they will be left irrelevant if the mainstream parties were involved, they were aware that they (separatists) will then not share the table with them."

"What happened to the recommendations of the working groups, interlocutor's reports? Nothing was implemented. It is a fine art of lying. How long we will lie? First, whom they met, their own people who have no grudge," he said, adding "they (the National Conference and the PDP) are propagating dialogue with separatists but who sabotaged the dialogue with militants in 2002 when the PDP was in power?"

He asked, "Who called the media to the guest house where dialogue was scheduled between militants and the government. All the three (Hizbul Mujahideen militant commanders involved in the dialogue) were killed. Who is sabotaging?"

The former minister in the PDP-BJP government said one is trying to go sincerely to reach out and resolve, other is pretending to resolve.&nbsp; 
"What we have seen are the pretensions of different sorts," he asserted.

Criticising the National Conference leadership, he said "it was the rigging in 1987 state elections which led to the eruption of militancy in the state. 
Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah welcomed the recent court order handing over life imprisonment to Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in 1984 Sikh riots case. The verdict plays a deterrent for others although the sentence was given after 34 years but who is responsible for the death and destruction in the valley and why they are being allowed to walk away with it,?" he said.

"I am not saying that it (1987 rigging of elections) was the cause but it definitely was the greatest facilitator to change a historically peaceful population and trigger violence. Nobody is talking about it. Why are we obsessed with only the symptom, killing is the symptom, there is a disease and 1987 is the part of the disease and unless you bring the perpetrators of 1987 to book, this thing will not stop," he said.&nbsp;

Separatist-turned-mainstream politician Sajjad Lone Sunday said his party, People's Conference, favours constructive engagement for resolution of the Kashmir problem for lasting peace in the region.

Separatist-turned-mainstream politician Sajjad Lone Sunday said his party, People's Conference, favours constructive engagement for resolution of the Kashmir problem for lasting peace in the region. Jammu and Kashmir Assembly has a role to control the situation but the solution is not available with our assembly. At the political level, it is the central government which has a bigger role and then it spans across the Line of Control (LoC) as well. We are in favour of it and it should be done through constructive engagement, Lone told reporters while welcoming several prominent persons to his party fold here. The people who joined Lone's party included former MLA Zanskar Syed Mohammad Baqir Rizvi, Peoples Democratic Party's additional spokesperson, lawyers Abrar Ahmad and Irfan Inquilabi from Poonch and Ashish Pandita. He said that the state assembly does not have the power to resolve the Kashmir issue. "If I promise you a solution of the conflict on the basis of a vote which is inadequate to resolve it, it will tantamount to lying (to the people). This is beyond the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly as the provincial government has a limited role to control the symptoms, which is violence," said the People's Conference leader, flanked by former minister Imran Ansari. He said that the People's conference is not against the constructive engagement or dialogue to resolve the issue. The constructive engagement of any sort on the conflict is not a substitute to reach out to the people of the state. Two measures are there to address any conflict— the operational, which the Army and the police are taking care of and the second one is structural which is not based on dialogue alone," he said. He said the central government should have a long time strategy on reaching out to the J&K people across the state. "When I say reach out, it does not mean economic doles, it means engaging and removing the mistrust and when you speak about the conflict resolution, you never talk in days and years but it takes decades. The state assembly has a six-year tenure while the conflict resolution takes decades," he said. Replying to a question about the lack of measures by the BJP-led government at the Centre to address the Kashmir problem, Lone shot back, "Why only five years, let us talk about 15, 20 and 25 years. I am saying there should be a long time strategy. The Manmohan Singh-led government have done no wonders. What type of dialogue or engagement he held? The working group were formed and I prepared a roadmap under the name of 'Achievable Nationhood' on their direction but they refused to acknowledge it. Instead, it was shelved." Referring to the roundtable conferences and working groups, he said, "Roundtable was meant to be with separatist but the PDP went under the table and pleaded that they will be left irrelevant if the mainstream parties were involved, they were aware that they (separatists) will then not share the table with them." "What happened to the recommendations of the working groups, interlocutor's reports? Nothing was implemented. It is a fine art of lying. How long we will lie? First, whom they met, their own people who have no grudge," he said, adding "they (the National Conference and the PDP) are propagating dialogue with separatists but who sabotaged the dialogue with militants in 2002 when the PDP was in power?" He asked, "Who called the media to the guest house where dialogue was scheduled between militants and the government. All the three (Hizbul Mujahideen militant commanders involved in the dialogue) were killed. Who is sabotaging?" The former minister in the PDP-BJP government said one is trying to go sincerely to reach out and resolve, other is pretending to resolve. "What we have seen are the pretensions of different sorts," he asserted. Criticising the National Conference leadership, he said "it was the rigging in 1987 state elections which led to the eruption of militancy in the state. Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah welcomed the recent court order handing over life imprisonment to Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in 1984 Sikh riots case. The verdict plays a deterrent for others although the sentence was given after 34 years but who is responsible for the death and destruction in the valley and why they are being allowed to walk away with it,?" he said. "I am not saying that it (1987 rigging of elections) was the cause but it definitely was the greatest facilitator to change a historically peaceful population and trigger violence. Nobody is talking about it. Why are we obsessed with only the symptom, killing is the symptom, there is a disease and 1987 is the part of the disease and unless you bring the perpetrators of 1987 to book, this thing will not stop," he said.

'Constructive engagement not a substitute for Kashmir issue', says Sajjad Lone

Congress leader Saifuddin Soz on Wednesday urged Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti to move court as he described Governor's decision to dissolve the assembly ''unconstitutional''.&nbsp;

Mehbooba should move court as what Governor has done on Centre's instructions is ''undemocratic'' and ''unconstitutional'', he said.&nbsp;

Mehbooba Mufti wrote to Governor only after Congress and National Conference (NC) extended their support to PDP and Governor should have given her a chance, he added.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Ghulam Nabi Azad said that it was a suggestion that PDP, Congress and NC form a coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir,&nbsp;

''I said this afternoon that it's a suggestion and no final decision has been taken yet (on PDP-NC-Congress alliance). BJP dissolved the assembly even though only a proposal was made,'' Azad added Jammu And Kashmir Governor's decision to dissolve the assembly.

Earlier, former chief minister and PDP patron Mehbooba Mufti staked the claim to form a government with the support of the Congress and the National Conference.

Shortly thereafter, People's Conference leader Sajad Lone also staked claim to form the government with the help of the 25-member BJP.

In a letter to the Governor, Mehbooba said the PDP is the largest party in the state assembly having a strength of 29 MLAs.

"You might have gathered from the media reports that the Congress and the National Conference have also decided to extend support to our party to form a government in the state. The National Conference has a strength of 15 MLAs and the Congress 12. That takes our collective strength to 56.

"Since I am presently in Srinagar, it would not be possible for me to call on you immediately and this is to keep you informed that we would be seeking your convenience shortly to stake the claim for forming the government in the state," Mehbooba said in her letter.

Congress leader Saifuddin Soz on Wednesday urged Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti to move court as he described Governor's decision to dissolve the assembly ''unconstitutional''.

Congress leader Saifuddin Soz on Wednesday urged Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti to move court as he described Governor's decision to dissolve the assembly ''unconstitutional''. Mehbooba should move court as what Governor has done on Centre's instructions is ''undemocratic'' and ''unconstitutional'', he said. Mehbooba Mufti wrote to Governor only after Congress and National Conference (NC) extended their support to PDP and Governor should have given her a chance, he added. Meanwhile, Ghulam Nabi Azad said that it was a suggestion that PDP, Congress and NC form a coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir, ''I said this afternoon that it's a suggestion and no final decision has been taken yet (on PDP-NC-Congress alliance). BJP dissolved the assembly even though only a proposal was made,'' Azad added Jammu And Kashmir Governor's decision to dissolve the assembly. Earlier, former chief minister and PDP patron Mehbooba Mufti staked the claim to form a government with the support of the Congress and the National Conference. Shortly thereafter, People's Conference leader Sajad Lone also staked claim to form the government with the help of the 25-member BJP. In a letter to the Governor, Mehbooba said the PDP is the largest party in the state assembly having a strength of 29 MLAs. "You might have gathered from the media reports that the Congress and the National Conference have also decided to extend support to our party to form a government in the state. The National Conference has a strength of 15 MLAs and the Congress 12. That takes our collective strength to 56. "Since I am presently in Srinagar, it would not be possible for me to call on you immediately and this is to keep you informed that we would be seeking your convenience shortly to stake the claim for forming the government in the state," Mehbooba said in her letter.

Governor's decision to dissolve assembly 'unconstitutional', Mehbooba should move court: Saifuddin Soz

Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Monday&nbsp;expressed her&nbsp;satisfaction over&nbsp;forming an alliance with the BJP in the&nbsp;state.&nbsp;

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She also hit out at the UPA government saying that the&nbsp;political process&nbsp;initiated&nbsp;by the&nbsp;Vajpayee&nbsp;government came to a halt in the 10 years of UPA regime.&nbsp;

She also said that she was happy that she formed an alliance with the BJP&nbsp;

She said &quot; There was UPA government for 10 years but unfortunately the political process started by Vajpayee Ji stopped moving in those years. Be it dialogues or working level facilities or other areas, everything was left hanging, just at the&nbsp;point it was left earlier&quot;.

She added &quot; When Modi Ji&#39;s government came and we formed an alliance. I am happy we did that. People tell me of the pleasant change in atmosphere here. Had we rejected people&#39;s mandate just because it is BJP, I do not understand what face we would have shown to the people.&nbsp;

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Then Modi Ji&#39;s govt came &amp; we formed an alliance. I am happy we did that. People tell me of the pleasant change in atmosphere here. Had we rejected people&#39;s mandate just because it is BJP, I do not understand what face we woulds have shown to the people: J&amp;K CM Mehbooba Mufti <a href="https://t.co/oDpEiX0E9U">pic.twitter.com/oDpEiX0E9U</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/957888679367725057?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

She also hit out at the UPA government saying that the political process initiated by the Vajpayee government came to a halt in the 10 years of UPA regime

Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Monday expressed her satisfaction over forming an alliance with the BJP in the state. × She also hit out at the UPA government saying that the political process initiated by the Vajpayee government came to a halt in the 10 years of UPA regime. She also said that she was happy that she formed an alliance with the BJP She said " There was UPA government for 10 years but unfortunately the political process started by Vajpayee Ji stopped moving in those years. Be it dialogues or working level facilities or other areas, everything was left hanging, just at the point it was left earlier". She added " When Modi Ji's government came and we formed an alliance. I am happy we did that. People tell me of the pleasant change in atmosphere here. Had we rejected people's mandate just because it is BJP, I do not understand what face we would have shown to the people. Then Modi Ji's govt came & we formed an alliance. I am happy we did that. People tell me of the pleasant change in atmosphere here. Had we rejected people's mandate just because it is BJP, I do not understand what face we woulds have shown to the people: J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti pic.twitter.com/oDpEiX0E9U — ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2018 ×

Happy to form alliance with BJP in J&K: Mehbooba Mufti

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Regional parties in India's J&K protest against govt's state land retrieval order, BJP supports it

'Constructive engagement not a substitute for Kashmir issue', says Sajjad Lone

Governor's decision to dissolve assembly 'unconstitutional', Mehbooba should move court: Saifuddin Soz

Happy to form alliance with BJP in J&K: Mehbooba Mufti