New Delhi: Buying land in Jammu & Kashmir may not be so easy even after the Modi government’s invalidation of Article 370 and Article 35A. The state BJP wants the NDA government to restrict it on the lines of land laws in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
Outsiders cannot buy agricultural land in Himachal without the permission of the state government while the Uttarakhand government has set a ceiling of 250 sqm for those from outside the state. There are similar restrictions and bans in many north-eastern states as well.
“Abrogation of Article 370 does not indicate that anybody from the outside can come and buy land. A person should have stayed in the state for a designated period of time to be eligible to buy land,” the Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Ravinder Raina said.
“People who have been staying here for longer will be preferred for land and jobs. The priority is to stabilise the situation in the Valley.”
The state BJP leaders said they have already conveyed to the party’s central leadership on the need to enforce restrictions on the purchase of land and property in Jammu and Kashmir.
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Leaders want domicile policy
Former J&K deputy chief minister Nirmal Singh has indicated that state BJP wants to implement a domicile-based policy to protect the land rights of locals.
“We would suggest this to the central government as well. In Himachal and Uttarakhand, there is a provision that nobody from the outside can come and buy as much land as they want,” Singh said. “We would want to protect the rights of Kashmiris. Unnecessary fear is being spread. The interests of Bakarwal, Balmikis and Gurjars of Kashmir will be protected.”
The BJP state vice-president Narendra Gupta told ThePrint that it won’t be a free-for-all when it comes to owning land.
“Earlier most of the land was occupied by a category of influential people. Now there will be certain kinds of restrictions on such practices. Locals will now be preferred,” he said.
“There is a lack of opportunities in the state. Mere 5 to 6 per cent of the people have government jobs,” he added. “More investment and opportunities will be created as directed by the prime minister in his speech. The government is also planning to organise an investment summit for the state in October that will help in employment generation.”
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Uttrakhand wala land law j&k me lagu karna chayiye jisse outsiders bhi 250sqmeter ka plot ya house kahi bhi le sake
Yes, many states have laws restricting agricultural land purchase. Places like srinagar may not be agricultural. Urban areas in kashmir can benefit from price rise/demand and there can be permitted to purchase in a few towns like baramula, anantnag, srinagar, shopian, pulwama. Other places can be out of bounds for non residents of state.
Nope! Current set of Kashmir leaders and supporters have ethnically cleansed the place changing demographics by running out non muslims , pundits etc via terrorism, it MUST be reversed FIRST . They cannot be allowed to lock in gains of ethnically cleansed status. There must NOT be any concern for “sentiments” ethnic cleanser . Their “specialness” must be obliterated first. Pakis across in POK and Gilgit etc have given lands in POK to ex army punjabis just fyi. Idea , program or policies of maintaining a muslim majority MUST be ended first if we want to Normalize. After 35 or so years we can look at it again.
It is idiotic to say that Kashmiris can buy land any where in India. What Mr. Raina mentions is absolutely be the case. Mr. Rajvir I bet you come and buy land in Gujarat and Maharashtra for farming! Yes now the Kashmiri daughters who marry Boys from other states they should not lose their rights on their father’s property.
It’s correct. The nature should not be spoiled. Government should be careful in selecting the investors without any prejudice.
True dirty colour of Politicians for vote bank politics. J&K residents can buy land any where in India they wish to but restrict Non J& K Indian residents to buy land in J& K. Such Cunning politicians for their self vote bank politics will never ever permit intergation of India in real sense.
Welcome realism / pragmatism setting in, in good time. The prospect of large scale influx from other parts of the country, which can change the demographic character of the state, can create strong resentment / hostility among the original residents. As far as purchase of land is concerned, a separate facility should be created for bona fide corporates that wish to set up hotels, non polluting factories or service units like software. Gimmicky real estate agents wishing to offer residential plots should be shooed off with a pellet gun. Instead of decrying all that has been done over the last seventy years, we should appreciate that a lot of sensible people have applied their minds and done what the circumstances prevailing then demanded.
True coilours of J&K BJP cadre is showing. They have full sympathy for being Kashmiris rather than Indians ?? Shame on such BJP members .