Farooq Tariq, spokeperson for the Awami Workers’ Party, Pakistan spoke to Green Left Weekly on August 6 about the situation in Kashmir:
“Yesterday was the darkest day for Kashmir's history, as the bifurcation of Kashmir was made a constitutional step by the Modi government, without any basis, just to promote Hindu chauvinism and the dua. This is an act against the Muslim minority. This was done without any consultation.
“There was no discussion at Kashmir Assembly. There has been a curfew imposed. Most of the activists are in jail. Schools are closed, universities are closed, Section 144 is imposed where this is a curfew. So it is a total suppression by the state on the day when they wanted to present this bill in the parliament.
“The Modi government has done this to promote their own racist agenda. This will not go very far. There will be resistance. There will be a lot of resistance in Kashmir, also in Pakistan there are a lot of voices raised. Within India all the left parties are raising their voices, so a giant struggle is continuing on this issue.
“The Pakistan left and Indian left are united in condemning this bill.
“We demand the release of all the detainees, lifting of the curfew, withdrawal of this bill, and that people listen to what the Kashmiris have to say.
“We support their right of self determination, including the right to secede.
“This is the right of any nation and this has been now curtailed in real terms in India.
“This is an occupation of Kashmir by India, which occurred yesterday.”