Srinagar: The decision by the Indian government to significantly augment the powers of the Lieutenant Governor in occupied Jammu and Kashmir continues to face widespread criticism. CPI-M leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami is the latest prominent figure to denounce these changes, which many perceive as an encroachment on the region’s autonomy.

According to Kashmir Media Service, Tarigami expressed his disapproval during a press engagement in Srinagar, critiquing the recent amendments to the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. These amendments, enacted by the Ministry of Home Affairs, have effectively centralized authority in the hands of the Lt. Governor, bypassing the elected legislative assembly of the region.

“The amendments have not only expanded the powers of the Lt. Governor but have also considerably restricted the functions of the elected government,” Tarigami stated. He highlighted that the Lt. Governor now has the authority to make significant administrative decisions, including the transfer of officers, which traditionally fell within the purview of the state cabinet.

Tarigami argued that this move represents a continued betrayal of the promises made by the BJP-led government to restore full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. He called for a collective response from all political parties and societal sectors to oppose what he termed a “draconian order.”