Communist Party of India (M) Leader Advocates for Kashmiri Rights

Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Mohammad Yusuf Tariqami has strongly called for the restoration of job and land rights for Kashmiris while challenging the BJP-led government’s policies in IIOJK.

Speaking in the Assembly, Tariqami emphasized the urgent need to safeguard the fundamental rights of the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). He urged the restoration of the region’s original constitutional status and criticized BJP leader Sunil Sharma’s controversial remarks about the martyrs of July 13, 1931. Tariqami expressed dismay at the statement, stressing the importance of acknowledging historical facts. He also condemned the BJP government’s decision to separate Ladakh from IIOJK, revoke its statehood, and reduce it to a Union Territory.

The CPI (M) leader raised serious concerns about the legal legitimacy of the Lieutenant Governor, questioning how an appointed official could genuinely represent the people of IIOJK. He challenged the precedent of downgrading a state to a Union Territory and rejected the notion that an unelected governor could effectively serve the interests of IIOJK’s citizens.

Tariqami reiterated that Kashmiris are not seeking charity but rather the restoration of their inherent rights and dignity. He highlighted that Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir has historically been a region of peace, where communalism has never taken root. He praised the region’s tradition of peaceful coexistence among diverse communities, emphasizing its resilient and inclusive spirit.