Secular parties must unite to counter BJP in J&K: Tarigami

Kulgam, Aug 18: Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, former Member Legislative Assembly (MLA), Kulgam and senior Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader, on Monday said the secular parties must unite and form an alliance to avoid division of votes in the upcoming elections.
He said secular and democratic parties in Jammu and Kashmir should engage in dialogue and work together. “Unity is essential to counter the BJP and its allies, reduce their strength, and ensure that the secular and democratic vote does not get divided,” he said while addressing media persons here.
Tarigami said that no single party, including his own, can face the challenges in Jammu and Kashmir alone. “Realistic unity among parties is a must to confront these challenges collectively and revive the political process in the region,” he said.
The CPI(M) leader said that after a long time, the Government of India (GoI) has acknowledged that elections are essential. He said the Election Commission has also reviewed the situation in J&K and has finally decided to move forward with elections, which is a positive development.
However, he expressed disappointment that the promise to restore statehood has not yet been fulfilled. “Even during the Prime Minister’s all-party meeting and in statements by Amit Shah, the restoration of statehood was promised after delimitation,” he said.
Tarigami criticised the government for not keeping its “promises” despite repeated assurances. “As a citizen of this country, I am dissatisfied with the Supreme Court’s judgment, and I feel I did not receive the justice I had hoped for. While the court mentioned statehood in its judgment and the Solicitor General assured it, the promise remains unfulfilled. How long must the people of Jammu and Kashmir wait for justice? This delay is not good for the country, democracy, or the people of J&K,” he said.
In response to a question about the points in the National Conference manifesto, he said, “I haven’t read it yet, but this has always been their position. Even today, if they reiterate their stance, I’ll remind you. There is a national party, the CPIM, which is in opposition at the All India level. In their parliamentary election manifesto, they clearly stated that without the restoration of Article 370, there will be no justice for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. When a party takes such a stance at the national level, it’s commendable for parties here, who have been more deeply involved in local affairs, to uphold their tradition and history.”