New Delhi- The government of India said on Wednesday that seven plots of land have been bought by non-locals in Jammu and Kashmir after new laws were introduced following the abrogation of the erstwhile state’s semi autonomous status in August 2019.
Replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha by CPI (Marxist) leader Jharna Das about the purchase of lands in the Union territory, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said that according to the information provided by the Jammu and Kashmir administration, a total of seven plots have been bought by people from outside the Union territory.
“All the seven plots are located in the Jammu division,” the minister said.
Responding to another question by MDMK member Vaiko who asked reasons for the continued unrest in the valley, the Minister said there has been a decline in militant attacks in the Union territory from 2018 to 2021.
He said the number of militant incidents in 2018 was 417 which fell down to 255 in 2019 and 244 last year.
Rai said there has been a decline in “terrorist incidents” and the security situation has improved since August, 2019. The special status of the erstwhile state was revoked on August 5, 2019 and it was bifurcated into the Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
The figure till November 20 this year stood at 203, he added.
The minister said that infiltration and aiding and abetting of militant activities from across the border have affected the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
The government has taken various measures, which include proactive operations against militants, identification and arrest of overground workers and action against members or supporters of banned organisations.
He said that night patrolling has been intensified and checking at Nakas, security arrangements through appropriate deployment, coordination meetings among security agencies, high level of alertness maintained by security forces and legal action in cases of militant funding were being done.
In reply to another question, the minister denied that any protests were reported during the visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to the union territory in October this year.
‘Statehood At An Appropriate Time’
The government also said holding polls in Jammu and Kashmir was the prerogative of the Election Commission and stressed that statehood would be granted to the Union territory at an “appropriate time”.
Home Nityanand Rai said the decision to schedule elections in the Union territory was the prerogative of the Election Commission of India.
The erstwhile state was converted into a union territory on August 5, 2019 and bifurcated into Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
In reply to another part of the question about any timeline for granting statehood to the Union territory, the minister said, “Statehood would be granted to Jammu and Kashmir at an appropriate time.”
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