Jammu, Feb 18 (KNO): While greeting the senior party leaders, Comrades Prakash Prakash Karat and Dr.Ashok Dhawale in the conference, hundreds of party activists with red flags in their hands raised revolutionary slogans with fervor and enthusiasm.
Inaugurating the open session of the 13th State Conference of the Party, Comrade Prakash Karat, Co-ordinator and Polit Bureau member of CPI(M) vehemently criticized Modi-led government for dismantling the historic state of Jammu and Kashmir into two separate Union Territories of JKUT and Ladakh on 5th August, 2019 was an unconstitutional move by the government which amounts to the betrayal of the assurances regarding protection of aspirations and identity given by the then national leadership to the people of J&K in 1947.
"Abolishing one state on 5th August, 2019 among the existing 28 states was a direct assault on the constitution and federal structure of the country" he asserted. CPI(M) vehemently opposed this move and organised nationwide protests across the country to show its solidarity with the people of J&K and it is the collective responsibility of the secular and democratic forces in the country to support and fight for the restoration of Statehood to J&K, he added as per a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).
Prakash Karat criticized the Hindutva forces led by communal and divisive RSS-BJP combine in assaulting the secular ethos of the country day in and day out which is detrimental to the larger national interest. He also opposed the Modi government in curtailing the normal and legitimate funding to non-BJP governments like Kerala, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu etc. which affects the developmental activities in these states.
Comrade Dr.Ashok Dhawale, President All India Kisan Sabha and member Polit Bureau opposed the anti-people and anti-working class policies of the government to benefit its corporate friends to the hilt.
He applauded the struggle of Sanyukt Kisan Morcha against the land laws of the Modi-led government and forced the government after its continuous struggle for one year and 15 days to roll back the laws. He emphasized that trade unions, working class forces, youth of the country should come on one platform to oppose the pro-corporate policies adopted by this government to benefit a few families at the cost of crores of working people.
M.Y.Tarigami, senior leader and Member, J&K Legislative Assembly denounced the blatant and brazen assault on the constitutional rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir by arrogantly abrogating Articles 370 and 35-A in August 2019. As it was not enough, this arrogant dispensation bifurcated the historic state formed by Dogra rulers into two separate Union Territories of JKUT and Ladakh which amounts to sheer humiliation of people's aspirations. He continued that it was Maharaja Hari Singh who promulgated the notifications in 1927 and 1932, banning the outsiders from J&K to purchase land and apply for jobs in the state. This was continued in the form of 35-A in the Constitution of India to protect these rights for the people of J&K which was dismantled by the BJP government.
The legacy of the national freedom movement and its leadership shaped the future of the country based on democratic, secular and federal structure in the form of the Constitution of India, he said. The protection of the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir were enshrined in the form of Article 370 in the Constitution of India and abrogation of its provisions have gravely disheartened the people.
He emphasised that the rate of unemployment in J&K is alarming which needs to be addressed on a war footing basis. He advocated for the release of political prisoners and media persons and rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants in the valley.
He appealed to the secular and democratic forces of the country to come forward in the fight for restoration of constitutional rights and statehood to J&K.
Resolutions of Democratic rights and civil liberties, restoration of statehood, unemployment, National Education Policy, Rehabilitation of Kashmiri Migrants, Land Laws, Trade union rights, Agriculture and Horticulture were unanimously adopted in the conference.
The two-day conference concluded by electing state committee comprising of 23 members with Mohd Abass Rather as Secretary State Committee—(KNO)