Mehbooba Mufti Says JDA Action Reflects Dangerous Trend of Bulldozer Politics
PDP Accuses NC of Enabling Arbitrary Demolitions After Anti-Bulldozer Bill Rejected
Srinagar, Nov 28: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti launched a sharp attack on the National Conference (NC)-led government on Friday, holding it directly responsible for the demolition of journalist Arfaz Ahmad’s house in Jammu. She said the Union Territory is now witnessing the “brutal consequences” of the ruling party’s refusal to support what she described as the PDP’s “anti-bulldozer” bill aimed at curbing arbitrary demolitions.
Reacting strongly to the incident, Mehbooba Mufti said the administration’s action mirrors the kind of selective targeting seen in other states where minorities are frequently at the receiving end of bulldozer-driven crackdowns. “These aren’t the homes of helpless Muslim families in UP or elsewhere where targeting minorities has become the norm,” she wrote in a post on X. “This is Jammu and Kashmir, where Arfaz, a journalist who built a modest home 40 years ago on 3 marlas of land, saw it being crushed to rubble in seconds.”
She accused the NC leadership of dismissing the PDP’s anti-bulldozer legislation by “branding residents as land grabbers” and stated that the fallout of that decision is now becoming evident on the ground. According to her, had the bill been passed in the assembly, such demolitions would have required stricter scrutiny, transparent procedures, and lawful safeguards.
The PDP chief reiterated that the demolition episode highlights the urgent need for clear laws, transparent mechanisms, and protections for vulnerable residents. She added that actions perceived as punitive or politically motivated only deepen mistrust between the people and the administration at a time when reconciliation and fairness are needed the most.
