Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, June 11: As the restoration of J&K Statehood remains elusive, CPI(M) leader and MLA Kulgam M.Y. Tarigami today alleged that the Centre “does not care” about the people’s mandate given to the elected Government.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the party’s day-long convention here, Tarigami said the aim of the visiting delegation-comprising Members of Parliament-is to present the “real picture” of Jammu and Kashmir before the country.
“The aim is to highlight the issues faced by people, especially those affected by cross-border firing. Our constitutional rights have been snatched away, and Statehood has still not been restored. The Government was given a mandate, but the Centre hardly cares about it,” he said.
He added that the delegation is in Kashmir to understand the ground realities and the pain of the people so that the true picture of the region can be presented in Parliament.
“The Centre and the BJP-led Government are spreading lies about the people of J&K. We want to present the correct picture-of farmers, students and others,” he said.
The delegation currently in Kashmir includes CPI(M) General Secretary M.A. Baby, and MPs Amra Ram, K. Radhakrishnan, John Brittas, Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharyya, S.U. Venkatesan, and A.A. Rahim.
MLA M.Y. Tarigami and the delegation also visited Uri to meet families affected by recent cross-border shelling.
Speaking to reporters, General Secretary M.A. Baby briefed about the visit to Uri, where they met people affected by shelling, including families of those who lost their lives.
He said the compensation given to the victims was far less than the losses suffered, calling it “atrocious.”
“We met several people who have suffered massive damage. The compensation is meagre compared to their losses. This is an atrocious response from the authorities,” he said.
He added that the affected residents have been asked to provide written assessments of their losses to Tarigami, “so that he can forward them to us, and we will raise the issue in Parliament.”
The General Secretary also flagged the lack of bunkers in Uri and emphasized the urgent need to construct more for the safety of locals.
“We will raise this in Parliament. There are other political issues as well, including Article 370 and the restoration of Statehood,” he said.
He further noted that during the events in April, the people of J&K stood united like the rest of India, which, he said, sent a powerful message.
“The Government must take steps to win the trust of the people of J&K,” he added. “The people of India stand with the people of J&K, and this spirit must be carried forward,” he said.
Since yesterday, the delegation, along with local party leaders visited various areas that have suffered heavy damage. “We also met with the families of those killed in cross-border shelling,” he said.
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