Hindutva forces, as allies of Western imperialism, are unleashing everyday street violence against Muslims in India in the name of creating an exclusionary Hindu state (Hindu Rashtra) by dismantling the egalitarian citizenship rights granted by the Indian Constitution.

Amidst the backdrop of the othering and ghettoisation of Muslims, the victory of Communist Party of India (Marxist) candidate and communist leader Mohamad Yousuf Tarigami in the Kulgam constituency of Kashmir in the recently concluded elections offers hope, as it shatters both imperialist propaganda on the international stage and Hindutva campaigns within the country.

Despite the dominant narrative of religious and majoritarian identity-based political campaigns, the communists managed to retain their electoral victory in Kulgam, largely due to people’s trust and political efforts led by the Communist Party under the leadership of Tarigami, who focused on addressing the everyday issues of the people.

Although the majority of people in the Kulgam constituency are Muslims, they did not vote along religious lines. Instead, the Muslims of Kulgam rejected religious polarisation by defeating the hardline, Jamaat-e-Islami-supported candidate. This marks Tarigami’s fifth victory in Kulgam, having also won the constituency in the 1996, 2002, 2008, and 2014 elections. By voting for communist leader Mr. Tarigami, the people of Kashmir have rejected the religious politics of the Hindutva-PDP alliance, instead choosing secular politics.

The victory of the CPI(M) candidate reflects the fact that the Muslims of Kulgam opted for class politics over majoritarian religious identity politics of dominance. This election result offers hope for the future of class-based politics in Kulgam, Kashmir, and India as a whole.

The victory of class politics in this Kashmir constituency also reflects the democratic resilience of the communists, who are fighting against all odds in the contemporary political landscape of regional and national politics in India. However, mainstream media portrays this victory as the isolated success of a leftist leader, aiming to undermine the political consciousness of voters and their support for the Communist Party in the elections.

Such a ruling-class agenda serves to perpetuate stereotypes against Muslims. This victory of the communists in Kulgam dispels two dominant myths about Muslims: first, that Muslims vote along religious lines, and second, that Muslims are not secular.

Mr Tarigami has always believed and argued that “the tradition of Kashmir has always been the sacrifices of the working class, and we are hopeful that it will continue. The Zaldagar martyrs of 1865 laid the foundation of a struggle against the exploitation and atrocities on the artisans, a prominent section of the working class. The Shawlbaff protest launched at Zaldagar against the ruling class has given vent to numerous movements of the working class which are awaiting successful culmination.”

Such a political approach underscores the historical foundations of working-class politics represented by Mr. Tarigami, rooted in a legacy of solidarity and radical struggles for livelihoods, human rights, and better working conditions in Kashmir and beyond.

The victory of class politics in Kulgam demonstrates that the struggles of the working class are central to various communities and their efforts for effective political mobilisation for democratic, secular and scientific transformation aimed at achieving social, economic, and political justice and equality. Religious politics domesticates individuals and their creative labour, serving to uphold the interests of both ruling and non-ruling elites.

Voting for religious politics within an electoral democracy often facilitates capitalist interests, which are contrary to the needs of the working masses. In contrast, working-class politics can truly uphold and realise the aspirations of the people while promoting the sustainability of the planet.

The rise of class politics is essential for defeating imperialist geopolitics, religious fundamentalism, and terrorist violence in Kashmir, which undermine peace in the region. Grassroots activism focused on the everyday issues faced by people can ensure peace and prosperity while deepening democracy and empowering inalienable and universal citizenship rights as outlined in the Indian Constitution.

For now, it is time to celebrate this significant victory of class politics in the Kashmir elections.

Author is Scholar based in UK

Courtesy: CounterView

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CPI (Marxist) leader Mohammed Yusuf Tarigami has approached the Supreme Court challenging the Union Home Ministry order which allows people from across the country to buy land in Jammu and Kashmir, including land for agricultural purposes.

According to LiveLaw, the application moved by the leader has sought for declaration of the changes made to Article 370 of the Constitution of India making the State of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories as “unconstitutional, void and inoperative.” The plea also sought the apex court’s intervention and a stay on the MHA order dated October 26, 2020 affecting a new land policy until the petition is heard.

Mohammad Tarigami has pleaded that this notification was issued by the Central Government in pursuance of powers under Section 96 of the J&K Reorganisation Act that empowers the Central Government to adapt laws.

Submitting that the Instrument of Accession empowers the Central Government to prefer orders relating to defence, external affairs and other ancillary matters, the application states that, “Matter relating to land use, transfer thereof and the broader matters relating to revenue were well within the powers of the state till the Presidential Orders dated August 5, 2019 (withdrawing J&K’s special status) and the passing of the Jammu and Kashmir (Reorganisation of State) Act, 2019.”

He therefore, contended that the notification of MHA is illegal as it has been issued in pursuance to powers accorded to the Central Government under a statute which itself is “unconstitutional, void and unsustainable and therefore liable to be struck down.”

The plea states that several constitutional provisions existed to safeguard the rights and identity of the region’s permanent and local residents, such as the J&K Alienation of Land Act, J&K Big Landed Estates Abolition Act, J&K Common Lands (Regulation) Act, J&K Land Grants Act and J&K Agrarian Reforms Act.

With this Central Government order in place, he argues, will effectively lead to the repeal of a few aforementioned statutes. It has also allowed for grant of land to non-permanent residents and has also shifted the power of approving the change of land use and utilization of village commons from elected representative to the District Collector.

Further, it has been submitted that the amendment will also allow any non-resident to buy agricultural land and to use it for commercial purposes with the permission of the Government, while the erstwhile law had been aimed at protecting farm land, that provided lifeblood to people of J&K, from commercialization.

LiveLaw reported that the Application concludes, “If the decommissioning or deoperationalising of the Articles 370 and 35A are unconstitutional, it is submitted that the amendments and changes sought to be made vide notification dated October 26, 2020 are also unconstitutional as the Central Government derives power from Section 96 of the J&K Reorganisation Act that was enacted subsequent to the issuance of Presidential Orders dated August 5, 2019 and August 6, 2019 whereby Articles 370 and 35A were decommissioned.”

The notification of this land law, had evoked strong reactions from Opposition leaders terming this as an attempt to put Jammu and Kashmir up for sale.

Related:

Centre opens Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh to the property market

All rights snatched from us should be returned: People’s Alliance in J&K

Cannot forget the insult of August 5: Mehbooba Mufti  

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