Srinagar, Oct 29: The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Wednesday witnessed heated exchanges after Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary dismissed the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) proposed “Anti-Bulldozer Bill” as a political stunt, accusing the party of playing to the gallery instead of engaging in constructive dialogue.
Responding to the bill introduced by the PDP, which sought to grant proprietary rights to individuals who have built houses on government land, Choudhary said the proposal lacked sincerity and consultation. “If PDP genuinely wanted to bring a bill for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, it would have at least talked to us,” he said.
The Deputy Chief Minister asserted that the National Conference has always taken decisions in the interest of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. “The NC has been working in the interest of this region since independence. But this bill was brought only for drama, so how can you expect NC to support it?” Choudhary remarked.
The PDP’s Anti-Bulldozer Bill was earlier rejected by the House following opposition from the ruling benches. The government maintained that any attempt to regularise illegal occupation of state land would violate existing land and property laws. [KNT]
