In Narwal, Jammu, a small, single-storey house that had stood for four decades came crashing down under the weight of bulldozers on a cold Thursday morning. It belonged to seventy-two-year-old Ghulam Qadir Daing, father of journalist Arfaz Ahmad Daing.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
As the Jammu Development Authority machines tore through the modest structure, his family stood helpless, pleading, crying, and watching the roof of their lives collapse. No prior notice, neighbours insisted. No explanation that made sense. Only dust, disbelief, and the bewildering silence that follows sudden loss.The elected government said it had nothing to do with it.
Into this bleak moment stepped the state’s Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, his shoes sinking into the rubble as he walked through what used to be a living room. He spoke sharply, demanding answers from the administration and the officers who had arrived with bulldozers without consulting either the Chief Minister or the elected leadership. He said the police were under the L-G, the JDA vice-chairman was appointed by the L-G, and if the demolition was not ordered by Raj Bhavan, then “who dared to do this without asking the L-G or the CM?”
Choudhary’s voice rose as he insisted that the elected government was neither weak nor helpless and that it would not allow selective, vindictive actions against journalists or the poor. “If someone thinks they can run Jammu and Kashmir with oppression and suppression, it will not last long,” he said. He asked the Lieutenant Governor to order an inquiry, suspend the officers, and fix responsibility.
You Might Also Like:
Islam’s Unique Civilisation: Unity of Faith, Culture and History
Iran Offers Condolences to India Over Delhi Red Fort Blast, NIA Launches Full Terror Probe
Is Crowdfunding and Taking Loans Allowed in Islam? Understanding Help, Tawakkul and Riba