NC’s Rejection of PDP Land Protection Bill Led to Today’s Sidhra Crisis: Adv Fareed Choudhary

GNS ONLINE NEWS PORTAL 

ALTAF HUSSAIN 

MENDHAR MAY 22:- PDP Youth leader and Advocate Fareed Choudhary has strongly condemned the recent demolition drive carried out in Jammu’s Sidhra and adjoining areas, terming it an inhuman, anti-poor and insensitive action that has pushed economically weaker families into fear, uncertainty and distress. He stated that the ongoing developments have exposed the failure to protect vulnerable communities and raised serious concerns over decisions that, according to him, have directly impacted poor families across the region.

Addressing the media, Advocate Fareed Choudhary said that the unfortunate situation currently unfolding in Sidhra could have been prevented had the land protection proposal brought by the Peoples Democratic Party been accepted and implemented at the appropriate time. He alleged that the PDP’s land protection bill, which was presented in the Assembly by senior PDP leader and MLA Waheed Parra, was blocked by the NC-led government, depriving thousands of poor and deserving families of legal protection and relief.

He stated that the bill was aimed at safeguarding the rights of families residing for years on small portions of Khaschari and state land, especially those occupying five or ten marlas and having no alternative means of shelter. According to him, the objective of the proposal was to protect poor families, including Gujjars, Bakerwals, labourers and other marginalized sections of society who have lived on such land for decades and built homes through their hard-earned savings.

Advocate Fareed Choudhary said that had the proposal received support and moved forward, many innocent families would not have faced the present uncertainty and emotional trauma. “Had the NC government accepted the PDP land protection bill presented by Waheed Parra, the painful situation in Sidhra may never have occurred. Today poor and innocent people are paying the price of political decisions and administrative failures,” he remarked.

He further said that demolishing houses of poor families who have spent their entire lives building modest homes for their children is not merely an administrative exercise but a matter directly linked to human dignity and social justice. He emphasized that no civilized administration should leave families homeless overnight without ensuring proper rehabilitation and protection.

Supporting the statement made by former Chief Minister and PDP President Mehbooba Mufti, Advocate Fareed Choudhary reiterated that the Peoples Democratic Party has always stood with poor, oppressed and marginalized communities. He said the party has consistently raised its voice for Gujjar, Bakerwal, labour and weaker sections and has remained committed to protecting their rights and dignity.

He expressed concern over what he described as selective action and questioned why economically weaker families often become the first targets while influential and powerful encroachers frequently escape strict scrutiny. According to him, such actions create a sense of discrimination and injustice among common people and weaken public confidence.

Advocate Fareed Choudhary stressed that governance should be based on compassion, justice and humanity rather than force and intimidation. He said governments and institutions must distinguish between influential land grabbers and poor families occupying small portions of land purely for shelter and survival.

Highlighting the humanitarian aspect of the issue, he stated that women, children and elderly citizens are among the worst affected by such demolition drives. He said many families are currently living under severe mental stress and uncertainty and require immediate assistance and support.

Advocate Fareed Choudhary urged the administration to immediately review the ongoing demolition drives and adopt a balanced, humane and people-friendly approach. He demanded proper rehabilitation, compensation and legal safeguards for all affected families and stressed that no family should be deprived of shelter without due consideration and relief measures.

He also appealed to the people to remain united and raise their voices peacefully and democratically for the protection of their rights and dignity.

Reaffirming his support for the affected families, Fareed Choudhary stated that the Peoples Democratic Party would continue to stand with every oppressed, helpless and marginalized individual and would continue its struggle for justice, dignity and protection of the rights of common people.