NC, BJP Join Hands to Block Land Rights Bill for Locals in J&K Assembly

Political Convergence Over Land Ownership

Mudasir Yaqoob
Srinagar, Oct 2025 — In a rare display of political alignment, the National Conference (NC) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday voted together to reject a bill that sought to grant land rights to local residents occupying public land across Jammu and Kashmir.

The “Jammu & Kashmir Regularisation and Recognition of Property Rights of Residents in Public Land Bill, 2025,” introduced by PDP MLA Waheed ur Rehman Para in the Legislative Assembly, aimed to legalize ownership for thousands of families who have lived on such land for decades.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah firmly opposed the proposal, saying his government could not endorse any measure that would “regularise illegally occupied state land.”
He reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting public assets and ensuring transparency in land management.

The decision drew sharp criticism from the opposition PDP, which accused the government of turning its back on economically weaker sections. “This bill was about social justice and dignity for the poor,” a PDP spokesperson said, adding that the government had missed an opportunity to address one of the long-standing grievances of marginalized families.
BJP had earlier expressed intention to oppose the bill while today NC seconded that opposition inside assembly.