Kulgam, Apr 25: Communist Party of India–Marxist (CPI-M) Central Committee member and former MLA Kulgam, Mohamad Yousuf Tarigami on Thursday said his party in J&K is throwing its support behind the INDIA Bloc candidate Mian Altaf Ahmad in the Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary constituency. He said the decision aims to thwart the victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) “proxies” and serves the broader interests of the public.
Addressing a rally at Nillow Kulgam organised under the banner of the Kisan Mazdoor mega public rally, Tarigami said, “On June 04, they will learn about the new parliament and the way forward for the country. Today the questions facing the people of this country, as well as those in J&K, revolve around the restoration of democracy, adherence to the law of the land, and reclaiming the rights eroded by the BJP government in J&K, Ladakh, and across the nation.”
He said this election is not an ordinary one. Over the years, elections have been held with varying issues, but the hard-won political order of the country has been under attack due to the policies of this government, he alleged, adding that after the conclusion of the first phase of elections, it appears that change is underway and there is a potential for significant shifts to occur.
“The apparent change underway has unsettled the leaders of the high command regime. Matters that should not be discussed by the top leadership of the ruling regime are being raised, targeting specific communities and potentially sowing discord among them. Such actions risk negative consequences for the people,” he added.
The CPI(M) leader said that to safeguard democratic, secular, and constitutional values, it is crucial to dislodge this ruling dispensation from the parliament.
“It appears a sense of change and transition has emerged among the people, indicating a desire for transformation. The people of J&K deserve change and have been striving for a more effective parliament. Preserving brotherhood and fostering love across communities is only achievable when the constitution is safeguarded, the rule of law is upheld, and democratic values remain intact,” he added.
Tarigami said the INDIA Alliance operates nationwide, and in Kashmir, they have decided to support National Conference (NC) candidates. The CPI(M) is a member of this Alliance, and accordingly, the JK CPIM has decided to endorse Mian Altaf of the NC for the Anantnag-Rajouri Parliamentary seat.
“We aimed to prevent vote division and ensure the defeat of BJP proxies, some of whom operate discreetly. We did not want the CPI(M) to contribute to vote fragmentation. Considering the broader interests of the people, we opted not to nominate a candidate and instead support the Alliance candidate, a decision I also communicated to the public,” he added.
