Only Unity Can Ensure Peace In Jammu & Kashmir, Says Rahul Gandhi

About 23,000 hectares of land have been reclaimed so far as a result of the anti-encroachment drive in the Jammu region.

Congress leader and member of parliament (MP) Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said that unity only can ensure peace in Jammu and Kashmir. The Wayanad MP stated that "Kashmiriyat and peace in the Union Territory can only be protected if the people are united and not divided." English translation of his Hindi tweet today said, "Jammu and Kashmir wanted employment, better business and love, but what did they get? Bulldozer of BJP!"

He also added that "the land, which the people of Jammu and Kashmir irrigated with hard work for many decades, is being snatched from them."

Rahul Gandhi made these remarks amid the demolition drive that is currently underway in Jammu and Kashmir. The opposition has been opposing the move.

The Union Territory administration has launched an eviction drive against the illegal encroachment allegedly done by "big land owners" and influential people in the region. About 23,000 hectares of land have been retrieved so far as a result of the anti-encroachment drive in the Jammu division, reported ANI.

Earlier this week, People's Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Mehbooba Mufti protested against the ongoing anti-encroachment drive in Jammu and Kashmir, levelling an allegation that there is "Gunda Raj" in the UT. She was later detained for leading the protests in the national capital, earlier.

Mufti said, "There is Gunda Raj in J&K, It is getting destroyed like Afghanistan." Her party has  alleged that the government was at war with the people in the UT. Last month, PDP said, "The heartless homelessness drive started by the LG administration is aimed at dispossessing the residents of J&K," as cited by the ANI report.

Earlier Mufti said that in the garb of reclaiming state land from encroachers, no notices are being served to the people.

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir People's Conference Chief Sajad Lone also expressed his objections at the ongoing eviction drive. He said his party has no objection to the anti-encroachment drive if it is against the big landowners. Lone, however, said that only the poor are getting targeted and left to die due to the current actions.

According to a report by ANI, J&K Democratic Azad Party President Ghuklam Nabi Azad said, "At a time when the anger against the Centre has cooled off slightly and militancy and stone-pelting cases have gone down, the government is harming itself by launching the anti-encroachment drive instead of drawing benefits from the favaourable results."

Amid all this, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said he does not support illegal occupancy of government land, but there is a proper way to carry out the evictions.