STATE TIMES NEWS
NEW DELHI: Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said here today that for purchase of property in Jammu & Kashmir, “Gupkar” Road is the most preferred site, and, therefore, before warning the people of Jammu to safeguard their land from being taken away by outsiders, the so-called mainstream Kashmir-centric leaders should first make sure to guard their own palatial bungalows constructed at one of India’s most picturesque locations by the side of Dal Lake, on such a majestic scale that they could give a complex to the Royal Palaces of erstwhile Princes.
Responding to queries from media persons about the warning held out to the people of Jammu by the National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah, Dr Jitendra Singh, without naming anybody, said that it is a matter of common sense that abrogation of Article-370 grants people across India the right to purchase property in Jammu & Kashmir, but it does not take away from the people of Jammu & Kashmir their right to decide whether to sell the property or not and whom to sell. He accused the Kashmir-centric so-called mainstream leaders of feeling rattled because now they will not be able to purchase properties in Jammu region so easily at under-rated prices because the people of Jammu will now have the advantage of choosing their buyers from a larger pan-India pool and also seek higher price.
The newly enacted Land Laws, said Dr Jitendra Singh, nowhere allow forcible occupation or taking over of anybody’s property or even purchasing property without the owner’s consent. If that was so, the Gupkar bungalows would have been the first to be taken over, he added.
Meanwhile, today, Chief Minister of Sikkim, Prem Singh Tamang called on Dr Jitendra Singh and discussed several centrally aided development projects in the State. He also conveyed his gratitude to the Minister for the manner in which the latter had regularly followed on day-to-day basis, the COVID situation in the State as well as relief and rehabilitation work following the rainfall and floods.
During a half-an-hour meeting with the DoNER Minister, Tamang submitted two proposals, one of which related to Chakung falling under one of the Aspirational districts. He also updated Dr Jitendra Singh about the heavy tourist rush in Sikkim which had remained undeterred by the COVID pandemic and continuing even during the off-season.
