Srinagar: Senior Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader and Kulgam MLA, M Y Tarigami, has declared the celebration of the Union Territory’s Foundation Day as a “humiliation” for the people of the occupied Jammu and Kashmir. He described the move as a “downgrading” of the territory, labeling it as “unprecedented” and an “assault” on the Constitution.

According to Kashmir Media Service, M Y Tarigami expressed in a media interview in Srinagar, “The humiliation of the people of Jammu and Kashmir is being celebrated by the rulers and some bureaucrats are applauding it. This is unfortunate.” He criticized LG Manoj Sinha for his remarks regarding MLAs skipping the celebrations, which Sinha described as showing their “dual character.” Tarigami pointed out that the Supreme Court has stated that the Union Territory status is temporary and that statehood must be restored quickly.

Tarigami urged LG Manoj Sinha and the central leadership, including the prime minister and home minister, to acknowledge the temporary nature of the Union Territory status, as stated on the record, and work towards restoring statehood. The ruling National Conference had announced its decision to abstain from the UT Foundation Day celebrations, reinforcing its stance that it does not accept the current status and demands the restoration of statehood promptly.