SRINAGAR: BJP and central government were not allowing the Omar Abdullah government to function freely, CPM MLA M Y Tarigami said on Monday, while demanding the restoration of people’s rights and full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
“After the abrogation of Article 370, executive orders domicile laws, restriction on media and intimidation of government employees have become commonplace in J&K,” Tarigami said at a press conference in Srinagar. He said despite these “oppressive measures”, people turned out in large numbers in the assembly elections held in Oct 2024 after a gap of seven years and elected a government of their choice. “Instead of respecting this democratic verdict, the BJP-led central government continues to undermine it,” he alleged.
NC had won a massive democratic mandate, which must be respected, the Left neta said. Asked if he would join the Omar cabinet, if invited, since a cabinet expansion was on the cards, Tarigami said he would respond to it at an appropriate time.
He also criticised the Waqf (Amendment) Act, stressing that “it will increase communal polarisation and damage the secular fabric of the nation”. The Kulgam MLA also slammed the “constitutional and disastrous decisions of Aug 5, 2019, nullifying Articles 370 and 35A, along with a series of arbitrary legislations and humiliating actions”. “Snatching away J&K’s statehood and its bifurcation into two UTs has created a deep political void and intensified a sense of uncertainty and alienation of people,” he added.
Tarihgami said the CPM demanded immediate restoration of full statehood to J&K “as a step towards restoration of special status”, as well as “protection of land and job rights”.
