NEW DELHI: CPI(M) leader from J&K Mohammed Yousuf Tarigami urged the Centre to listen to the people of the state on the issue of abrogation of Article 370.
Making an emotional appeal, he said the BJP might be claiming that not a single bullet has been fired and no one has been killed, but truth is that ‘Kashmiris are dying a slow death’.
“We also want to live. A Kashmiri, a Hindustani is saying this. This is my appeal, please listen to us too,” an emotional Tarigami said while addressing the media.
The Supreme Court had allowed Tarigami to travel independently after he was discharged from AIIMS. He was under house arrest in Srinagar. The CPI (M) leader said the situation in the valley is not normal.
“It has been said that there is normalcy. How it can be normal if the internet is cut? No business is functioning. Schools are closed. Shops are closed. Is this normalcy?” he asked.
Tarigami expressed concern at the government’s decision to invoke the Public Safety Act against former J&K chief minister Farooq Abdullah saying the NC chief is not a terrorist.
He thanked CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury for relentlessly fighting for ensuring his survival and treatment.
Yechury said the legal fight to ensure normalcy in the Valley will continue.
“We are grateful to the Supreme Court for allowing Tarigami to move on his free will,” Yechury said.
Sinha turned back
Former BJP leader Yashwant Sinha reached the Srinagar airport on Tuesday along with Air Marshal Kapil Kak (retd) and social activist Sushoba Bhave but was not allowed to enter the city and had to return to Delhi.
The others, however, moved into the city.