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The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) has supported the protest proposed by National Conference (NC) President Farooq Abdullah at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on the first day of the monsoon session of Parliament, demanding restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. The party has appealed to all political parties, organizations and citizens to join this demonstration.

CPI(M) Jammu and Kashmir State Committee Secretary Mohammad Abbas Rather said that the issue of restoration of statehood is not of any one party or region, but is to all the communities and people of Jammu and Kashmir. He said that we should forget all differences and unite in this movement.

Rather said in his statement that on August 5, 2019, the central government had abrogated Article 370 and Article 35-A and divided the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. They allege that this decision was taken without any comprehensive discussion with the stakeholders of Jammu and Kashmir.

He said that although the decision to remove Articles 370 and 35-A has received judicial approval, the Supreme Court had directed the Central Government to restore the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir as soon as possible. Despite this, this promise has not been fulfilled till now.

The CPI(M) leader alleged that instead of restoring statehood, the central government issued a notification on July 12, 2024, amending the ‘Transaction of Business Rules’, giving Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha more executive powers in matters such as appointment and transfer of officers of police, law and order and All India Services. According to him, this has weakened the powers and mandate of the elected government.

CPI(M) said that this proposed demonstration at Jantar Mantar is in the larger interest of protecting the constitutional system and democratic values ​​of the country. The party says that further delay in restoring statehood will further increase dissatisfaction and disappointment among the people.

It is noteworthy that the National Conference is considering this protest as the biggest political campaign so far to restore the full statehood of Jammu and Kashmir. Farooq Abdullah has appealed to all the parties of the India alliance to join it.

According to sources, Farooq Abdullah met Congress’s Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, DMK chief M.K. Stalin, Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav, former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay have urged 52 leaders from across the country to join the protest.

However, the central government has not given any official response on this issue. Sources claim that the Union Home Ministry believes that at present the circumstances are not completely favorable for restoring the status of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.