Land nurtured by people with hard work being snatched away: Rahul on eviction drive in Jammu & Kashmir

File Photo/PTI

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday attacked the BJP over the ongoing anti-encroachment drive in Jammu and Kashmir, saying the Union Territory wanted employment, better business and love but instead got the "BJP's bulldozer".

Major political parties such as the Congress, the National Conference, and the PDP have voiced their concerns against the drive and demanded an immediate end to it.

The authorities have so far retrieved more than 10 lakh kanals (one kanal =605 sq yards) of land across Jammu and Kashmir after the Commissioner Secretary, Revenue department, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri directed all deputy commissioners to ensure 100 per cent removal of encroachments from the state land on January 7.

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In a tweet in Hindi, Gandhi said, "Jammu and Kashmir wanted employment, better business and love, but what did they get? BJP's Bulldozer!"

The land which the people nurtured with their hard work for many decades, is being snatched away from them, the former Congress chief said.

"Peace and Kashmiriyat will be protected by uniting, not dividing people," he said.

Gandhi also tagged a media report which claimed that the eviction drive had caused panic in Jammu and Kashmir.

Last month Gandhi unfurled the national flag in Lal Chowk area in the Union Territory's capital city Srinagar. His Bharat Jodo Yatra also concluded in the region on January 30. The Yatra saw a massive participation of people in Jammu and Kashmir and it was also joined by former Jammu and Kashmir chief ministers, Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti and various political leaders.

Rahul Gandhi's 4,000-kilometer Bharat Jodo Yatra's - Unite India March - was to bring India together and strengthen the nation. The yatra began on September 7 in Kanyakumari in the state of Tamil Nadu. Congress supporters then traveled through 12 states, covering nearly approximately 4,000 kilometers in 150 days.