Jammu: The Jammu Development Authority (JDA) has demolished a dozen shops belonging to displaced Kashmiri Pandits in Jammu city. The move has triggered protests, with political parties and social organizations demanding accountability and relief for the affected shopkeepers.
The shops, located on JDA land, had been a primary source of livelihood for the Kashmiri Pandit families. Relief Commissioner Arvind Karwani, who visited the site to assess the situation, assured the families that new shops would be constructed for them in the area.
“These shops were on JDA land. The relief organisation has floated tenders for constructing a shopping complex in Muthi Camp Phase II. Ten shops will be constructed soon and allotted to these shopkeepers,” he said.
Political parties, including the BJP, PDP, and Apni Party, condemned the demolition and called for measures to protect the livelihoods of the affected families.
“How can we feed our families when we are solely dependent on the earnings from these shops?” asked Jav Lal Bhat, a shop owner. “We urge the Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Minister to intervene and give us justice.”
PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti shared a video of the affected shopkeepers on X (formerly Twitter) and urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to address the issue urgently. “Heartbreaking scenes emerge as Kashmiri Pandit shopkeepers stand helplessly by the rubble of their demolished shops, reportedly brought down by the JDA without prior notice. This comes as yet another blow to a community that has endured unimaginable hardships for decades,” she posted.
BJP spokesperson G.L. Raina, after meeting the affected families, criticized the demolition. “This visibly seems to be a revenge action soon after the return of the NC-Congress government headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. JDA should have provided alternatives to these families. The government must stop targeting this hapless community,” he said.
Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari also slammed the administration, saying, “Jammu Development Authority (JDA) should not have demolished the temporary shops belonging to Kashmiri Pandit refugees at Muthi Camp, Jammu. These small establishments have been the primary source of livelihood for these poor migrants for over past three decades. If demolition was necessary, the administration should have first arranged alternatives to protect their livelihood.”
He added, “Such actions are disappointing, especially under an elected government that is expected to prioritize the welfare of its citizens. I urge the administration to ensure justice for the affected shop owners by either permitting them to rebuild their shops or providing them with suitable alternatives to sustain their livelihoods.”
