Demolition drives in Jammu carried out without elected Govt’s consent: CM Omar
Srinagar, Nov 28: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday launched a sharp attack on the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha-led administration, alleging that recent demolition drives in Jammu were carried out without the knowledge or consent of the elected government and form part of a larger attempt to undermine the democratic mandate.
CM Omar’s remarks came a day after the Jammu Development Authority (JDA) demolished several structures, including the residence of a journalist, drawing public criticism and prompting questions about procedural violations.
Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, he said the bulldozer action reflected a troubling pattern of “unilateral decisions” by officers appointed through Raj Bhavan.
The CM said these officers acted independently, bypassing ministers and departments headed by the elected government.
He said such actions not only breach administrative protocol but “point to a conspiracy aimed at defaming the elected government.”
According to him, the issue highlights why his government has repeatedly stressed the importance of having the authority to assign and manage field-level officers.
“You may appoint Principal Secretaries or Commissioner Secretaries, and that is fine. But CEOs of development authorities and revenue field staff should be posted with the elected government’s consent. Unfortunately, officers are being assigned these positions without any consultation, and those very officers take instructions from somewhere else and bring out bulldozers,” CM Omar said.
He alleged that the demolition in Jammu appeared selective and potentially motivated by communal considerations.
The CM said he had directed the concerned departments to submit a comprehensive list of all encroachments on JDA land to determine whether only one individual or locality had been singled out.
“It is impossible that a single person is encroaching on all JDA land. I want to know why only this case was acted upon, and whether the person’s religion became a factor,” he said.
CM Omar also took strong exception to LG Sinha’s earlier claims that the Raj Bhavan did not interfere in the functioning of the elected government.
“This is a textbook example of interference,” he said. “No file had been shared with the concerned minister nor had any consultation taken place.”
The CM clarified that his government does not support illegal encroachments, but said the “pick-and-choose bulldozer policy” was meant to create public resentment against elected representatives.
“If the officer responsible had been appointed by us, I would have taken action. But how can such a major step be taken behind the back of the elected government? This is not an isolated lapse. It is a continued pattern by those who cannot digest the election results,” he said.
CM Omar challenged the JDA to publish a full list of illegal encroachers across Jammu to ensure transparency.
“Let them publish every name. Only then will people see who is being protected and who is being targeted. Selective demolitions based on religion or geography are nothing but a political conspiracy,” he said.
