In CPI(M) citadel Kulgam, Tarigami Marshals ‘Protest Vote’ against 2019 decision

Kulgam, May 25: Amid intense political activities across the Kashmir Valley, Kulgam district stands out as an unwavering bastion of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), with veteran leader Mohammed Yusuf Tarigami spearheading the party’s efforts.
Despite the presence of Jamaat-e-Islami strongholds in the area, the hammer, sickle, and star of the CPI(M) continue to hold sway, thanks to the relentless work of Tarigami, the party’s state secretary and a four-time Kulgam MLA.

As the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha constituency went to polls on Saturday, the 75-year-old Tarigami actively campaigned for Mian Altaf, the National Conference candidate and the nominee of the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), of which the CPI(M) is a part.
Through vibrant roadshows, Tarigami rallied support for Altaf, highlighting the importance of unity within the PAGD and emphasizing Altaf’s secular values.
After casting his ballot in his ancestral Tarigam village, Tarigami expressed his determination, stating, “Today, we got an opportunity, and people of Kashmir used it in the best way to register their protest against what happened in August 2019.”
Referring to the Centre’s abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories, Tarigami said, “People are angry over being deprived of the rights given to them by the Constitution and are thronging the polling stations to register their protest through ballots.”
Tarigami, whose name was changed from Mohammed Yusuf Rather after he was booked under the Public Safety Act in the late 1970s, reflected on his political journey and the struggles he faced.
The village of Tarigam resonates with political fervour, with echoes of Faiz Ahmad Faiz’s “Hum Mehnatkash Is Duniya Ke” from the film “Mazdoor” filling the air. Despite obstacles, Tarigami rallied support for Altaf, emphasizing the importance of unity within the PAGD.
Accompanied by Mohd Abass Rather, the party’s district secretary, Tarigami navigated through the village, receiving warm greetings from locals who recognize his unwavering commitment to their development and well-being.
Tarigami’s leadership and dedication to marginalized communities have solidified the standing of the CPI(M) in Kulgam, even as the political landscape continues to evolve in the aftermath of the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A.
As a vocal opponent of these changes, Tarigami has demonstrated his steadfast advocacy for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, earning respect across party lines for his principled leadership and unwavering dedication to the community.