THE 12th Party state conference of Jammu and Kashmir was held at Srinagar on March 23, 2022. Sitaram Yechury, general secretary of the Party attended this conference. The following resolution was adopted at the conference. 

The overall situation in Jammu and Kashmir has gone further downhill since the BJP government revoked the constitutional autonomy under Article 370 of the region and split it into two centrally controlled territories – Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh on August 5, 2019. While this brazen assault dismantled the   constitution of Jammu & Kashmir, it also seriously undermined the relationship between the people of the state and the union. This authoritarian move has pushed the people further to the wall.

The amendments to fourteen land laws including four crucial laws –  The J&K Development Act, 1970, The J&K Land Revenue Act, 1996, The Agrarian Reforms Act, 1976 and the J&K Land Grants Act, 1960 – have spurred insecurity among the common people in the entire region. The introduction of new land laws is set to have a deleterious effect on the economic sovereignty of Jammu and Kashmir.

The delimitation commission has proposed an arbitrary overhauling of territorial constituencies to favour the ruling party. Even the fundamental parameters i.e., the population has not been used to re-map the constituencies. CPI(M) along with other parties has already moved the Supreme Court to challenge the Reorganization Act under which the entire delimitation process is being carried out. 

Because of continuous lockdowns and shutdowns soon after August 5, 2019, the economy of the region has been put in a deep crisis. Business, tourism, handicrafts, agriculture, horticulture have been adversely affected. Despite tall claims, no substantial relief has been provided to the affected people. Claims regarding development remain confined to repeated announcements by the administration. Corruption is rampant at every level.

The graph of unemployment in the region has shot up considerably. The ministry of statistics and programme in its recent report pegged the unemployment rate in Jammu and Kashmir at 46. 3 per cent, which is the second highest in the country. The gruelling wait for jobs has begun gnawing at the educated unemployed youth.  The sacking of government employees, on the other hand, in an arbitrary fashion reflects the dictatorial tendencies of this administration. 

The apple industry, which is the backbone of the region’s economy has been grappling with losses over the past several years. The long-drawn-out lockdowns and competition from the imported duty-free apples, which are sold at dirt-cheap prices in the name of Kashmiri apples in various mandis of the country, have incurred heavy losses to the apple growers and traders.

The strong-arm method to evict the small farmers from their Kacharaie, Banjar, shamilat (village common land) and land allotted under Roshni Scheme has widened the uncertainty among the rural population.

The arbitrary arrests under draconian laws like UAPA, PSA etc continue unabated and those arrested are being detained in and outside the valley. Youth are particularly feeling harassed. The restrictions on peaceful political and trade union activities under different pretexts continue.

The scribes working for different media outlets face intimidation and harassment. The media policy of the government is widely being perceived to muzzle the freedom of the press.

The unfortunate killings of panchayat members, innocent civilians and police personnel still continue. Such incidents lay bare the normalcy and "Naya Kashmir" narrative of the BJP government. 

The undivided Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed tumultuous events for decades but the exodus of the Kashmiri Pandit community from the valley in the early nineties is the saddest part of our history. The people from other communities have also suffered tragedies. These tragedies should have provided opportunities to narrow down the differences and face these unfortunate situations unitedly.  However, this bad situation is being exploited for narrow electoral gains by the BJP government. Promoting Kashmir Files film is an attempt to polarise the people further.

CPI(M) conference resolved to fight for the unity of the people, restoration of their legitimate constitutional rights and their wellbeing along with other democratic forces.

CPI(M) is committed to working for peace, a better future for our people and the dignified return of the Kashmiri pandits to their homes.

During the conference, Ghulam Nabi Malik was re-elected as secretary of the Party in Jammu and Kashmir.