Jammu: Senior CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami on Sunday called for the restoration of the rights of people of Jammu and Kashmir, asserting that undermining their political and constitutional rights would neither serve the interests of the country nor help establish lasting peace.
He also questioned the Centre’s claims of normalcy in the Union territory, saying the government must explain why members of the Kashmiri Pandit community are once again receiving threats from terrorists despite repeated assertions that peace has returned to the region.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function organized here to pay homage to party’s General Secretary Sitaram Yechury ahead of his second death anniversary on September 12, Tarigami criticised the BJP over recent protests in Jammu and Srinagar.
“The BJP is also protesting, as is the National Conference (for statehood). But tell me, I myself could not understand what exactly the BJP is protesting about. As far as the BJP is concerned, they have the Government of India with them, and even the government here is effectively in their hands — the administration and officials here,” the Kulgam MLA said.
He asked whom the BJP could hold responsible for issues relating to governance and public order.
“So, whom are they going to complain to? Whom are they going to hold responsible? What exactly are they trying to say?” he said.
Tarigami also criticised the manner in which Jammu and Kashmir had been reorganised and called for restoration of what he described as the region’s rights.
“The people cannot be misled for too long. Times are changing, both in Kashmir and here in Jammu,” he said.
Referring to the legislature, he alleged that it had been rendered powerless by the Centre.
“We hope that the legislature will be restored to its rightful position. The legislature has been rendered powerless – who has made it powerless? The Government of India has done so,” he said.
He called for restoration of the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, saying the move was essential for the region’s future.
“The rights granted to the people of Jammu and Kashmir by the Constitution and the Constituent Assembly should be restored. That is where our security lies, and that is where our future lies as well…This is a question of the rights of Jammu. It is also a question of the rights of Kashmir. Therefore, weakening the people of Jammu and Kashmir does not serve the interests of the country. It will not help establish lasting peace,” he said.
Tarigami also raised questions over land and employment protections that existed during the rule of last Dogra ruler Maharaja Hari Singh, asking who subsequently changed those laws. “I would like the BJP, and the BJP government, to answer this before the people of Jammu.”
The CPI(M) leader sought accountability over the fresh threats held out to Kashmiri Pandits. “They say the situation has improved and there is peace everywhere. This is what they say in Parliament and elsewhere. Then why is it happening again that a community — a minority community, which has already suffered immensely — is once again facing threats?”
He said the government must explain who was behind such incidents and what steps were being taken against them.
“The government needs to be held accountable on this issue. It must take the people into confidence and explain what is happening, which forces are behind such threats, and what the government is doing or intends to do to deal with those forces,” Tarigami said.
Paying homage to Yechury, he said the struggle associated with his leadership would continue, particularly for the rights of workers, farmers, youth, students and women.
Tarigami also appealed to the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh to maintain their bonds despite the political changes and divisions in the region.
On youth issues, the CPI(M) leader criticised the Centre over employment and the handling of student protests, referring to demonstrations at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar in July.
“Until our young people protested at Jantar Mantar, faced lathis and went to jail, the government did not listen,” he said.
Tarigami also criticised the government’s economic policies, alleging that public assets were being privatised at the expense of ordinary citizens.
“Your airlines and airports are being sold, ports are being sold, power plants are being sold. Who is doing this?” he asked.
Questioning whether such policies served the wider public interest, he said, “Is this being done for the benefit of the people of India? Or is it being done to increase the profits of a handful of large corporates?”
