Move an “assault on India’s Constitution, democracy and federalism”
Indian Left parties, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation, All India Forward Bloc and Revolutionary Socialist Party have declared together declared August 7 as the National Protest day against “Dismantling the State of Jammu & Kashmir” which they have condemned an “assault on India’s Constitution, Democracy & Federalism”.
In a statement issued on Monday, the parties said that the “unilateral” abrogation of Article 370 and other provisions of the Constitution and division of the state of Jammu and Kashmir by the Modi government, through an act of Parliament, “has dealt a severe blow to our constitutional order”.
The Indian government, on Monday, suddenly announced the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh into two union territories. Before this, the state witnessed secretive tensions as sudden and extraordinary military troops were moved into tge state. This generated panic and fear prevailed in the state from August 2 onwards. When this unilateral abrogation was announced through a Presidential Order in Parliament, the people of Kashmir were forced into a state of complete shut-down. All internet, mobile and cellular services have been disconnected, leaders of the opposition have been put under house arrest. There has been a curfew imposed ever since.
Calling the move an assault on federalism, a fundamental feature of the Indian Constitution, the statement by left parties, said, “The special provisions guaranteed by the Indian Constitution to the state of Jammu & Kashmir were the result of the princely state signing the instrument of accession to the Indian Union in the face of Pakistani invaders. By the current measures, the Modi government has completely negated the assurance made by the Indian government to the people of Jammu & Kashmir.”
The statement highlighted the fact that the Indian union was formed on the basis of the unity of our people recognizing the immense diversities that exist, which is the legacy of our freedom struggle. Clearly, the RSS/BJP cannot tolerate any diversity and are converting Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh as two separate centrally administered Union Territories.
“This is a betrayal of all promises, repeated ad nauseam by the Central government over the years, of upholding Kashmiriyat, Jamhooriyat (democracy) and Insaniyat (humanism)”, it said.
Emphasising the need for a “political dialogue”, the statement said that the strengthening of the bonds of the people of Jammu & Kashmir with the rest of India can only be through the “process of political dialogue with all stakeholders, as promised by the government three years ago”. It said that this step, which is “unilateral” in nature “will only deepen the alienation” and called this “harmful for the unity and integrity of India.”
In view of this situation, the Left parties have call upon the people of India to strongly protest against “these illegal and unconstitutional methods employed by the Modi Government.” The statement noted, “These are not issues confined to Jammu & Kashmir alone. They constitute an attack on democracy, federalism and the constitutional order.”
Call for protest
The Left parties call for a protest day on August 7, 2019 all over the country.
Jointly signed by:
1. Sitaram Yechury, General Secretary, CPI (M)
2. D Raja, General Secretary, CPI
3. Dipankar Bhattacharya, General Secretary, CPI (ML)
4. Debabrata Biswas, General Secretary, AIFB
5. Kshiti Goswami, RSP