Demolitions spark political storm as Omar accuses L-G admn of overreach

Facing criticism from opposition parties over recent demolition drives in Kashmir and Jammu, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday accused the Lieutenant Governor’s administration of carrying out these actions without his government’s knowledge, alleging a “political conspiracy to defame and humiliate the elected government.”

Authorities this week demolished what they termed “illegal constructions” in Ganderbal district. On Thursday, a team of the Jammu Development Authority (JDA) and J&K Police demolished the house of a local journalist in Jammu, sparking outrage from political parties and civil society groups, who alleged selective targeting.

Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Omar claimed that officers appointed by the Raj Bhawan—without consultation with the elected government or minister concerned—were initiating the bulldozer action.

“It means that the elected government is being defamed and humiliated through a conspiracy,” he said, adding that a “particular community is being targeted.”

The Chief Minister reiterated his government’s long-standing demand for the authority to assign field-level staff within departments. “You may post principal secretaries and commissioner secretaries, but CEOs of development authorities and revenue staff should be posted with our consent. Instead, officers are appointed without discussion and then take dictation from elsewhere, roll out bulldozers, and start demolitions,” he said.

Referring to the demolition of the journalist’s house in Jammu, Omar questioned the selective action: “Is there only one allegation of encroachment on JDA land in Jammu? I have asked for the full list of illegal encroachments. I want to know why this single person was targeted and whether his religion had anything to do with it.”

He stressed that the matter was neither brought to the government’s notice nor conducted with its advice. While reiterating that “no one supports illegal occupation of government land,” he said the administration must not “pick and choose” or act on the basis of “religion or area.”

Calling the actions “direct interference in the functioning of the elected government,” Omar said: “Show me one file where the minister was informed. If these officers were appointed by us, action would have been taken. But when such incidents happen repeatedly, it becomes clear that it is a political conspiracy.”

Meanwhile, the National Conference government has come under fire from opposition parties. PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, reacting to the demolition of the journalist’s home, wrote on X: “These aren’t the homes of helpless Muslim families in UP or elsewhere where targeting minorities has become the norm. This is Jammu & Kashmir, where Arfaz, a journalist who built a modest home 40 years ago on three marlas of land, saw it bulldozed in seconds.” She criticised the NC government for dismissing the PDP’s anti-bulldozer bill, saying “the brutal consequences of that decision are for all to see.”

People’s Conference Chief and MLA Sajad Lone, commenting on the Ganderbal demolitions, questioned the selective implementation of law: “Why is it that only poor homes or hotels get demolished? What about the elite? Are they all within permissible limits?”