JAMMU, April 2 -- The National Conference government headed by chief minister Omar Abdullah, on Wednesday, allowed a private members bill by the party legislator, Tanvir Sadiq, who sought restoration of J&K land grants act 1960 and the rules famed there under to their original form as it existed prior to J&K land grant rules 2022. Sadiq sought renewal of leases to the existing occupants so as to ensure that public land serves the interests of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. It may be stated here that lease for majority of the hotels including Nedous Hotel and Highland Park, in Gulmarg has expired or is bound to expire. Following 2022 amendments to the J&K Land Grant Rules, automatic renewals ceased. When the bill came up for introduction in the House, chief minister Omar Abdullah said that he would not oppose it and allow its introduction. Consequently, Speaker AR Rather put the bill's introduction to a vote. The NC members supported it via voice vote while opposition parties remained silent.The bill has been brought to counter the impact of the Jammu and Kashmir Land Grants Rules, 2022. The new rules, unveiled in 2022, stipulate that all leases-except subsisting or expired residential leases, including those granted under the Jammu and Kashmir Land Grants Rules, 1960, the notified area (All Development Authorities in the tourism sector) Land Grant Rules, 2007, or leases expired or determined prior to the commencement of these rules, or issued under these rules-shall not be renewed and shall stand determined. Such leases, the rules state, shall be put to auction afresh at market rates instead of almost negligible premium. However, the LoP Sunil Sharma accused the National Conference of misusing the public mandate. "Those who voted for NC deserve answers. The Land Grants Act amendment raises serious concerns - appearing to favor Nedous, the CM's interests, and elite circles through re-leasing public land. Public assets must serve the people, not a privileged few," Sharma, who is presently campaigning for the BJP in Assam, posted on X. Peoples Conference president Sajad Gani Lone said the bill seeking amendments to the Land Grants Act was aimed at benefiting the "super elite" of Kashmir. In a lengthy post on X, Lone stated that the bill is "aimed to help the super elite of Kashmir." "CM sahib allowed the introduction of a private member bill. The government didn't oppose it. The bill pertains to land. More specifically about extending the leases on government land that have expired. The bill pertains to some of the costliest real estate in Kashmir, worth I would guess about 70000 to one lakh crores. Or maybe even much more. And no prizes for guessing. It is aimed to help the super elite of Kashmir. May I ask what is in it for the poorest of the poor. Lakhs of poor families who have built houses on 2 Marlas or 3 Marlas or at the most a kanal. They continue to be persecuted on a daily basis. They are as helpless as they have been for decades. Do they not deserve a bill? I am not opposed to the bill per se. But it is the super elite only who have to benefit. May I ask some questions. I asked them in Assembly. Never got an answer. What is the total land in Kanals that belongs to the government and has been leased out. What is the lease amount that they have been paying till date," Lone wrote on X...