Ahead of the sixth anniversary of the revocation of Article 370, which stripped occupied Jammu and Kashmir of its special status, a coalition of Indian and Kashmiri political leaders, activists, and former bureaucrats convened in New Delhi to demand the restoration of the Article. The meeting, organized by the Forum for Human Rights in Jammu and Kashmir, coincided with the ongoing monsoon session of Indian Parliament, aiming to push for parliamentary discussion on the issue.

Former Indian government interlocutor Radha Kumar emphasized the urgency, stating, “Our appeal is for a resolution to restore statehood and for parliamentarians to initiate discussions via the Business Advisory Committee.” Kashmiri leaders, including Farooq Abdullah, Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami, and Agha Ruhullah Mehdi, alongside Congress, RJD, and Left MPs, attended the gathering. A petition signed by 122 former civil servants, including ex-Home Secretary Gopal Pillai, was submitted to lawmakers.

Abdullah asserted, “We are not here to beg. It is our constitutional right. The 2019 decision was illegal—reverse it.” He criticized the lack of consultation with J&K’s elected representatives before the abrogation. Mehdi framed the issue as a threat to India’s federalism, warning, “J&K’s ‘crime’ was being Muslim-majority. This template could be applied elsewhere, like Bengal or Seemanchal.”

RJD’s Manoj Jha accused the government of treating IIOJK as a “land mass for electoral gains,” arguing the 2019 debate targeted the Hindi heartland, not Kashmiris. Critics also highlighted unfulfilled promises of stability, with Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary questioning, “If militancy justified revoking Article 370, why does it persist?” CPI(ML)’s Dipankar Bhattacharya demanded accountability for security lapses, including the recent Pahalgam attack.

Radha Kumar noted Article 370 remains in the Constitution, urging MPs to restore it through legislative action and repeal the 2019 Reorganisation Act. Congress’s Naseer Hussain confirmed the INDIA bloc’s consensus to raise the issue in Parliament. CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami said that while the wounds of Partition have gradually healed in India, Kashmir continues to suffer its painful legacy even today.

In Kashmir, the pain remains fresh. Even today, Kashmiris are being punished for sins they never committed. Why?” “People must reflect on how British-era decisions during Partition created long-term suffering for regions like Kashmir. Voices raised then are still relevant today,” Tarigami said.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)