India, Oct. 29 -- Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) legislator Waheed Para has criticized Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's rejection of the proposed Land Protection Bill, terming it "unfortunate and ironic" that the National Conference, which once pioneered the landmark 'Land to the Tiller' reforms, is now opposing measures aimed at safeguarding "poor and landless people".

Reacting sharply to Omar Abdullah's statement dismissing the Bill, Para said the move exposes the ruling party's "disconnect with ground realities" and "betrayal of its own historic legacy". He added that the government's refusal to recognize the rights of people settled on state land runs contrary to the social and political principles that once defined the National Confer...