[Marxistindia] Jammu & Kashmir: Murder of Democracy and Federalism

[news from the cpi(m)]

August 5, 2019
 
Press Statement
 
The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the
following statement:
 
Jammu & Kashmir: Murder of Democracy & Federalism
 
The Modi government has struck a big blow at democracy and the Constitution
by scrapping Article 370 of the Constitution and dismantling the state of
Jammu & Kashmir.
 
The people of Kashmir had acceded to India in the face of invaders from
Pakistan and a solemn commitment had been made to them by the Indian State
to provide them with special status and autonomy which was embodied in
Article 370. The Modi government has betrayed the people of Jammu & Kashmir
by going back on this commitment. 
 
The BJP-RSS rulers cannot tolerate any diversity and the federal principle.
They are treating Jammu & Kashmir as occupied territory. Trampling on the
Constitution, they are converting Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh as two
centrally-ruled Union Territories. This is the biggest attack on national
unity and the concept of India as a Union of States. 
 
The run-up to these authoritarian measures have seen tens of thousands of
troops being deployed in Jammu & Kashmir, detention of leaders of major
political parties and movement of public prohibited. This itself shows that
the Modi government is imposing its diktats without the consent of the
people.
 
The strengthening of the bonds of the people of Jammu & Kashmir with the
rest of India should have been through the process of political dialogue
with all stakeholders, as promised by the government three years ago.
Instead, such an unilateral step will only deepen the alienation. This is
harmful for the unity and integrity of India. 
 
The CPI(M) denounces these measures taken by the Modi government. They are
illegal and unconstitutional. This is not an issue confined to Jammu &
Kashmir alone, they constitute an attack on democracy, secularism and the
Constitution itself. 
 
The people of India are being forewarned that such authoritarian attacks
will take place on their democratic and constitutional rights.
 
This is the time to stand with the people of Jammu & Kashmir and mobilise
the people to resist this onslaught on the Constitution and federalism.  
 
The CPI(M) calls upon all democratic-minded people to join the all-India
protest day called by the Left parties on August 7.
 
Stop the Destruction of the State of Jammu & Kashmir
Defend Article 370 of the Constitution
 
 
 
 
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