Srinagar: The activists of Hindu rightwing outfits on Monday (February 16) staged a demonstration calling for “shooting the traitors” after a senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader alleged that a majority of land encroachers in Jammu belonged to Kashmir.Dozens of rightwing activists carrying saffron flags burnt the effigy of J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah in Jammu while reiterating the demand of the BJP’s Bahu legislator Vikram Randhawa that the government should set up a task force to probe the land encroachment. Last week, Randhawa informed the assembly that 16,212 kanals of land owned by the Jammu Development Authority (JDA) was encroached upon in Jammu. “90% of this land has been encroached upon by Kashmiris,” he said, prompting an uproar in the House.Shouting slogans such as ‘vacate the JDA land’ and ‘vacate the government land,’ the activists led by Rashtriya Bajrang Dal (RBD) state president Rakesh Bajrangi condemned the ruling National Conference-led (NC-led) government for allegedly failing to address the issue.“Desh kay gaddaru ko, goli maro salu ko [shoot the traitors]. NC government hai hai [down with NC government], UT [Union Territory] sarkar hai hai [down with the Union Territory government],” the protesters chanted. The chants of ‘shoot the traitors’ by the BJP leaders allegedly led to widespread violence during the 2020 Delhi riots in which at least 52 people, mostly Muslims, were killed in three days of riots in the national capital. Speaking with reporters on Monday, Bajrangi who was one of the known faces of the agitation that culminated in the de-recognition of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi (SMVD) medical college in Jammu last month accused the J&K government of inaction on the issue of alleged land encroachment. “Whether it is the JDA land, state land or some other land, there has been massive encroachment in Jammu since 2008. A task force should be set up and action should be taken against the offenders. The government should learn to do its job otherwise we will take action on our own,” he warned. The RBD leader alleged that illegal constructions were going on in Sunjwan, Bhatindi and other areas of Jammu where many Kashmiri Muslims own residential and commercial properties, “The government doesn’t appear interested in stopping these activities,” he said. Some protesters surrounding Bajrangi were also seen waving the flags of Antrashtriyya Hindu Parishad, a Hindu rightwing group which was launched by former Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) member Pravin Togadia in 2018. “We support the statement of Randhawa ji in the assembly on 13 (February). We have hit the streets earlier also and we will do it again,” Bajrangi warned.Senior leader of the ruling National Conference and J&K minister Sakina Itoo, and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party legislator from Pulwama Waheed Para have criticised Randhawa for his “communal” remarks. The Wire has also reported that Randhawa was served an eviction notice by the JDA in 2021 for allegedly encroaching upon a land parcel in Chek Ganeshu village of Jammu where he has set up a stone crusher plant. Some activists have accused the saffron party legislator of land encroachment but he has denied the charge.Anti-government protests by the Hindu rightwing outfits linked to the ruling BJP have gained momentum in Jammu in recent months in the backdrop of the agitation against the admission of Muslim and other non-Hindu students to the SMVD college.After the National Medical Commission reportedly de-recognised the college citing “non-compliance with minimum standards” in January this year, the Hindu rightwing groups have been stepping up their protests in different parts of Jammu over a host of issues. Several meetings have been organised recently by these groups and activists at the Geeta Bhawan in Jammu in recent weeks, some of which have also been attended by the Leader of the Opposition and senior BJP leader Sunil Sharma. In recent weeks, these groups have been stoking the fire in the Jammu region for its separation from Kashmir, as well as agitating for the establishment of a National Law University in Jammu and against Valentine’s Day celebrations in the winter capital.