Pulwama, Jun 08 (KNO): In a show of solidarity with farming communities facing uncertainty over the future of agricultural land in parts of Awantipora, leaders from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday joined local farmers in a paddy plantation drive, terming the eviction of cultivators and restrictions on farming activities an "assault" on livelihoods and agrarian traditions.
The plantation drive was held in the Awantipora area amid growing resentment among farmers who claim they are being prevented from cultivating state land that their families have tilled for generations.
The event witnessed the participation of Pulwama MLA Waheed Ur Rehman Para, Tral MLA Rafiq Ahmad Naik, National Conference leader and former DDC member Mukhtar Ahmad Bhand, BJP leader Arshid Bhat, besides scores of farmers, local residents and political workers.
The leaders joined villagers in transplanting paddy saplings in the fields, a gesture they described as both symbolic and practical support for farming families affected by recent administrative actions. The development comes after authorities re-ploughed cultivated land and directed several farmers to vacate state land, triggering concern among residents of Padgampora, Dangerpora, Gooripora and adjoining villages.
Speaking to reporters during the plantation drive, MLA Waheed Ur Rehman Para, as reported by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), accused the government of failing to address unemployment while simultaneously targeting the resources on which rural families depend.
“Instead of creating jobs and employment opportunities for the youth, the government is taking away the resources of the people. These lands are the only source of livelihood for hundreds of families who have been cultivating them for generations,” Para said.
He argued that the Awantipora region has already contributed significantly towards major developmental projects, including AIIMS Awantipora and the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST).
“Awantipora has already provided nearly 1,000 kanals of land for institutions like AIIMS and IUST. Taking away fertile agricultural land from poor farmers is unjust. There is enough barren land available where infrastructure projects can be established without disturbing cultivable fields,” he said.
The MLA alleged that local communities in Jammu and Kashmir were increasingly feeling disconnected from their own resources and assets.
“It appears that land in Jammu and Kashmir is no longer available for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, but is readily available for others. We are witnessing bulldozers being used in Kashmir, issues surrounding Sidra, and even our minerals are being exploited. People feel alienated from their own resources,” he remarked.
Expressing concern over the socio-economic impact of displacing cultivators, the PDP leader said agriculture remains the backbone of rural life in the region.
“These families have been cultivating these fields for nearly a century. If their land is taken away, where will they go? How will they sustain their families? Agriculture here is not merely an occupation; it is the foundation of the local economy and rural society,” Para added.
Tral MLA Rafiq Ahmad Naik also questioned the need to acquire productive agricultural land for developmental projects.
“If the government intends to construct a stadium or any other facility, there is ample land available in Tral and other areas. Why should fertile agricultural land, which supports hundreds of families, be targeted?” Naik asked.
Later in the day, PDP leader Iltija Mufti visited the area and interacted with affected farmers. She assured residents that her party would continue to raise the issue and take all possible measures to safeguard the land.
Addressing the gathering, Iltija said the Revenue Department falls under the administration supported by the National Conference, and questioned why local agricultural land was not being protected despite assurances made to the people.
She recalled that the PDP had earlier proposed legislation aimed at protecting land rights but faced criticism from rival parties at the time.
“The PDP had brought a land protection bill, but it was rejected. At that time, both the NC and BJP accused us of being land grabbers and promoting ‘land jihad’. Today, the same people must explain why agricultural land is being taken away when the revenue department is under their control,” she said.
The issue has generated widespread concern among residents of Padgampora, Dangerpora, Gooripora and nearby villages, where many families rely entirely on agriculture for their income.
Villagers said generations of farmers have cultivated these lands, using the earnings to support their households, educate their children and sustain their livelihoods. They urged the administration to adopt a humanitarian approach and allow cultivation to continue until a lasting and mutually acceptable solution is reached.
“We have been farming these lands for decades. Our livelihoods, our families and our future are linked to these fields. We are not asking for anything extraordinary; we only want to continue cultivating the land that has sustained us for generations,” several farmers said during the plantation drive.
The affected residents appealed to higher authorities to intervene and address their concerns, warning that prolonged restrictions on cultivation could have far-reaching economic and social consequences for hundreds of farming households across the region—(KNO)