Congress opposes Land Order, seeks rational policy to protect small farmers, poor people

Jammu, January 12 :  Congress has strongly criticized the recent Govt. direction to evict the all occupants of Govt. Land especially landless, petty,  small and marginal farmers and other poor people from the agricultural and other lands in their cultivation and possession for decades and termed the same as arbitrary, irrational and unjustified being anti-farmers and anti-poor and demanded its immediate withdrawal till framing of  a fair and rational policy.

Addressing a crowded  press conference at PCC HQ here today, JK PCC Chief Spokesperson Mr. Ravinder Sharma, alongwith other senior leaders, demanded immediate withdrawal of the order and framing of fair and a  rational policy to save the small and marginal farmers and poor  and landless people from the preview  of this order, which will uproot thousands of poor people, while the big sharks may find escape routes .

 Mr. Sharma said that thousands of landless, petty, small and marginal farmers în cultivating possessions of different kinds of agricultural and residential lands appurtenant thereto, face forcible eviction by  31^st January  as per order which is very serious. The people especially farmers are restless , since issuance of dictatorial order, aș their Girdawris have been already erased unilaterally în recent years, without adhering to the norms especially following the principles of natural justice. 

 He said that by a single order all categories of people including the landless, small & marginal farmers  are being evicted  from the small land  holdings in their occuipations whereas big sharks having  illegally occupied  or  secured  large chunks of  state or custodian lands certainly form a separate category țo be sternly dealt with under law of land. The Congress stands shoulder to shoulder with the landless, small & marginalized  farmers  and other poor people who are în peaceful, uninterrupted and long duration possessions of such lands.

Sharma said that past governments always framed laws and norms to the benefits of landless, small and marginal farmers &tillers but the present dispensation is hell bent to crush the poor people especially farmers

Flanked by other leaders of the party and farmers leaders, he referred to previous laws and norms of past  governments în the favour of tillers, small and marginal farmers like Big  Landed estates abolition act 1952,C.O. – 578-C of 1954, LB-6, LB- 7, of 1958, S -432 of 1966,Agrarian Reforms Act 1976, CM guidelines 1971 and several others but this  government is the only exception which is trying to hit the poorest of the poor especially the  farmers, who are  “Anndata” of all. 

Flanked by several senior leaders including Shah Nawaz Choudhary- General Secretary  PCC and Member DDC, Secretaries Shashi Sharma ( Incharge  PCC Kissan Cell), Pawan Raina, Neeraj Gupta (Media Coordinator)  PCC Spokespersons Kapil Singh, Sahil Sharma, Ajaz Choudhary Gen Secretary IYC, Chairman Social Media Bilal Choudhary , Ricky Dalotra  JKPCC Chief Spokesperson said  those whose forefathers were în cultivating possessions of small portions of stare lands prior to 1947, those internally displaced from areas near LOC &settled by the government and administrations of the time immediately after 1947, besides those displaced from PoJK, SCs, STc, OBCs, Minorities etc are also being affected, disturbed and uprooted în large Numbers, without any case to case examination, which is arbitrary and irrational and în violation of various laws & human rights. 

This action of the government is even contrary to its own stand în the hon’ble High Court and Hon’ble supreme court and coercive method is being adopted during pendency of those pleas, which is unfortunate. 

Asserting that Congress has always sided and stood with the farmers în the country, JKPCC Chief Spokesperson said that matter shall be taken with the party high command  especially Shri Rahul Gandhi for high level review of this major issue of the livlihood and shelter of thousands of poor people, to protect their rights. 

JK PCC also expressed serious concern over plight of different sections of youth including unemployed, temporary and other categories of daily wagers need, contractual adhoc, others who are seen protesting on the streets for the past several years due to anti youth and anti employees of the administration, he said the ruling BJP has failed to take up at appropriate forum to address their genuine issues.

He also expressed serious concern of the party over the deteriorating security scenario due to series of targetting killings forcing the minority community employees of KPs and Jammu to migrate to Jammu and fear amongst the  minorities especially Rajouri Poonch areas due to the Dhangri incident which is the biggest  failure of the Centre Govt. and UT administration to deal with the situation and demanded stepping up the security system to check terrorist activities, especially selective and targeting killings.