Srinagar, Senior leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami, has called on the Indian government to reconsider its policy of denying government jobs to relatives of individuals involved in the freedom struggle in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), stating that such measures could be counterproductive.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Tarigami criticized the current government’s approach during a media interaction, highlighting the punitive measures imposed on families of those who have participated in acts of resistance against Indian rule. This policy, he argues, does not align with the principles of justice as relatives of activists are penalized for actions they did not commit. The BJP-led government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has recently extended this policy to include denying employment to family members of stone-pelters and individuals labeled as freedom fighters, as stated by Indian Home Minister Amit Shah.
Tarigami questioned the constitutional basis for such punitive measures against families, suggesting that the government should instead focus on policies that integrate rather than alienate. He emphasized that such actions could push more individuals towards resistance rather than resolving the long-standing issues in the region.