Srinagar: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah has declared that the people of Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) are the rightful proprietors of their territory, not the Indian state. This assertion was made during a public address, where Abdullah highlighted the ownership rights of the Kashmiri population over their land.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Abdullah stated, “The land belongs to its inhabitants, not to any external entity.” He underscored the importance of recognizing the rights of the local people amidst ongoing political tensions and policy changes by the Modi-led Indian government, which allegedly aim to undermine the property rights of the residents of Kashmir.
This statement from a significant political figure in Kashmir adds to the complex dialogue surrounding the region’s autonomy and the broader geopolitical conflict involving India and Pakistan, each of which administers parts of the larger region of Kashmir but claims it in full.