“If we have to fight terrorism in Kashmir, we have to ensure that the democratic rights taken away by cancelling Article 370 be restored, along with Statehood,” M.A. Baby, General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), said. File
| Photo Credit: The Hindu
Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary M.A. Baby on Wednesday (June 11, 2025) warned against third-party intervention in Jammu and Kashmir and instead pitched for India and Pakistan to begin direct negotiations. The Left party also pushed for the restoration of Article 370 of the Constitution and the Statehood of J&K.
Speaking at the party’s one-day convention at Srinagar’s Tagore Hall, Mr. Baby said: “Administrative, political and diplomatic initiatives are needed to sort out problems. When we speak about dealing with terrorism, military options are limited. Certain steps have been taken [during Operation Sindoor]. We have to put a stop to it now. The negotiation should start between both countries and there should not be any third-party intervention. People like [U.S. President] Donald Trump should not be allowed to interfere in our affairs.”
Mr. Baby is part of the CPI (M) delegation visiting J&K, along with MPs Amra Ram, Bikash Ranjan Battacharya, John Brittas, A.A. Ahmad, Su Venkatesan, and K. Radhakrishnan.
‘Restore Article 370, Statehood’
Criticising the Union government for abrogating provisions of Article 370 and downgrading J&K into a Union Territory in 2019, Mr. Baby said, “If we have to fight terrorism in Kashmir, we have to ensure that the democratic rights taken away by cancelling Article 370 be restored, along with Statehood. Restoring legitimate constitutional rights will pave the way for building confidence among the people of J&K, which is quite necessary for peace in the area.”
He said that after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam in April, the CPI (M) had demanded that a special session of Parliament be convened to discuss the current security situation in J&K and the emerging escalation between the two neighbouring countries, but noted that “the government seems to be reluctant to face the Opposition”.
Fixing responsibility for Pahalgam
Terming the Pahalgam terror attack as unfortunate and horrendous, the CPI (M) general secretary said the attackers wanted to divide people.
“The people of Kashmir and the people of India refused to succumb to the design of dividing people. They remained united. Now there is a ceasefire on the borders, this is the time to reflect on who allowed the dastardly murder of tourists in Pahalgam. The Central government is ruling J&K, even local police are under the Lieutenant Governor, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. All these matters need to be discussed in the Parliament,” he added.
Mr. Baby highlighted the fact that J&K’s elected Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was not allowed to sit in a recent Unified Headquarters meeting, which reviews the security of J&K. “The CM was not allowed to sit there. An L-G appointed by the Centre presides over such meetings. What will the people of Kashmir think?” he added.
He reiterated that the ₹1.30 lakh compensation announced for J&K families affected by enemy shelling was “meagre and inadequate”. He added: “Besides, there has to be enough bunkers. Shifted people are not living in proper conditions. The government must act.”
‘Undemocratic acts’
In his speech, the CPI (M)‘s Kulgam MLA M.Y. Tarigami said the abrogation of Article 370 and downgrading of the State into two separate Union Territories “unilaterally was a direct assault on the bond of relationship of J&K with the Union of India”.
“This is the sole example in the country where the boundaries of the State were changed by imposing curfew, restrictions on media and press, detaining of the political leadership and activists,” Mr. Tarigami said.
He urged the people of J&K to stand together to raise their voices against the government’s undemocratic acts and to fight for the restoration of the constitutional rights which were snatched away on August 5, 2019.
‘Respect J&K mandate’
“The Government of India must respect the mandate of J&K people and stick to its commitment given on the floor of the Parliament for restoration of full Statehood soon after the Assembly elections,” Mr. Tarigami said.
He said that the unabated arrests of youth need to be stopped in J&K. “Raids and detentions without FIRs are against the Constitution. Our MPs must raise it in the Parliament. Dossiers under the Public Safety Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act are prepared for those who dare to write. Then they claim to be makers of new India,” he added.
Referring to the UT status of J&K, Mr. Tarigami warned that what started in J&K could be repeated in other parts of the country. “If voices are not raised now, it will be injustice to the democratic order of the country,” he said.
Published – June 12, 2025 12:29 am IST