CPI(M)‘s M.A. Baby tours areas hit by shelling in Kashmir, expresses concern over ‘poor’ compensation

CPI(M) delegation led by M.A. Baby visits LoC victims in Kashmir, criticizes inadequate compensation, and calls for restoration of rights.

A high-level delegation of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), headed by party general secretary M.A. Baby, on Tuesday (June 10, 2025) visited the population affected by shelling near the Line of Control (LoC) in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district. Mr. Baby expressed concern over the poor compensation provided to affected families.

Mr. Baby was accompanied by CPI(M) MPs Amra Ram, K. Radhakrishnan, John Brittas, Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharyya, S.U. Venkatesan, and A.A. Rahim.

“The situation is highly distressing because of the devastation and destruction [during Operation Sindoor]. The decision to grant ₹1.30 lakh as compensation is very meagre. J&K is a Union Territory now and is being ruled by the Centre. It’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah who are controlling everything here,” Mr. Baby, a former Rajya Sabha MP and Kerala Minister, said.

He said the decision to revoke J&K’s special status and reduce a full-fledged State into a Union Territory was “an attack on democracy”. “I am told the elected Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is not invited to important review meetings. These meetings are chaired by the Lieutenant Governor. Even the democratic process is being destroyed in J&K,” Mr. Baby said.

The CPI(M) general secretary said his party MPs would take the issue of compensation in Parliament “very seriously”. “There are families, with eight members, living in one room in the name of shelter. The plight of border residents needed to be discussed. It’s unfortunate that the Prime Minister did not attend the recent all-party meeting. His rhetoric cannot compensate for what people have suffered here,” Mr. Baby said.

He also expressed concern over the lack of individual shelters for the population in vulnerable areas of the LoC.

The CPI(M) is holding a one-day convention on the restoration of the legitimate constitutional rights of the people of Jammu & Kashmir in Srinagar on Wednesday (June 11, 2025). Mr. Baby and his party colleague, MLA M.Y. Tarigami, among others, will address the convention.