Srinagar, July 12 (JKNS): The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] on Sunday extended support to National Conference President Dr. Farooq Abdullah’s call for a protest at Jantar Mantar, urging all political parties, organisations and citizens to rise above political differences and jointly press for the restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
In statement issued here to news agency JKNS said, Mohd. Abass Rather, State Secretary, CPI(M) has appealed to every political party, organisation and citizen, regardless of ideology or affiliation, to set aside the differences and join hands on this common cause.
Recalling the events that led to the current situation, he pointed to 5th August 2019, when Article 370 and Article 35-A were abrogated and state was bifurcated into two Union Territories. The decision was taken without any consultation with stakeholders of Jammu and Kashmir, and remains, an unprecedented assault on the rights of the people. It was not an attack on one party or one region alone, but one that touched every community, caste and creed in the entire region, statement reads.
Repeated assurances were given from time to time for restoration of the statehood but the same remains unfulfilled so far. Instead of fulfilling the assurances of restoration of statehood, the Union Government further amended the Transaction of Business Rules by issuing a notification on 12th July, 2024, thereby empowering the Lieutenant Governor with an expanded executive authority over police, public order and posting and transfers of All India Services Officers (IAS, IPS and IFS). The move aims at further eroding the authority of the elected government thereby undermining the mandate of the people, it reads.
The united voice is needed to press for the restoration of statehood and appealed every political party and citizen who believes in the Constitution and in federalism to stand together to participate in the protest and send a clear and united message that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are united on the issue of restoration of statehood, it reads.
This is in the larger interest of the constitutional order of the country. Any further delay in this regard is bound to further deepen the wide-spread discontentment and disillusionment of the people, statement reads. (JKNS)