The 13th Jammu & Kashmir State Conference of the CPI(M) commenced with an open session on 17 February 2025 at the Sitaram Yechury Hall in Jammu. The event saw enthusiastic participation from hundreds of individuals across the Jammu Region and the Kashmir Valley. Veteran leader Om Prakash presided over the session, which was inaugurated by CPI(M) Polit Bureau Member and Coordinator Prakash Karat. Notable addresses were delivered by Polit Bureau Member Dr. Ashok Dhawale and Central Committee Member Mohd Yousuf Tarigami, a five-time MLA.
The speakers strongly criticized the BJP-RSS central government for the injustices, repression, and indignities inflicted on the people of Jammu & Kashmir since 5 August 2019. They celebrated the victory of the India Bloc and the defeat of the BJP-NDA in the recent J&K Vidhan Sabha polls. The conference emphasized that the restoration of statehood and special status for Jammu & Kashmir is crucial for defending democracy, a cause the CPI(M) pledges to champion nationwide.
The two-day conference, held on 17-18 February, was attended by 251 delegates, including 8 women. Among the delegates, 219 were from Kashmir and 32 from Jammu. State Secretary Ghulam Nabi Malik presented the report, which was discussed by 13 delegates and unanimously adopted following Tarigami's response.
Key resolutions adopted at the conference included:
1. Democratic Rights and Civil Liberties
2. Restoration of Statehood
3. Unemployment
4. Land Laws
5. Opposition to the National Education Policy (NEP)
6. Horticulture
7. Resettlement and Rehabilitation of Kashmiri Migrants
The conference elected a new 21-member State Committee, with Mohd Abbas appointed as the new Secretary, succeeding Ghulam Nabi Malik, who had completed three terms. Additionally, four delegates and two observers were elected to represent the state at the Madurai Party Congress.
In his concluding remarks, Prakash Karat commended the delegates for their dedication amidst challenging circumstances. He urged them to sustain and enhance the secular unity achieved in Jammu & Kashmir, focusing on mobilizing struggles and strengthening the party's organizational framework in the coming years.
