India: Statement from Concerned Citizens Condemning Abrogation of Article 370 and in Solidarity with the Peoples of Jammu & Kashmir

7 August 2019

We, concerned citizens of India and organisations from across movements, condemn the attempted abrogation of Article 370 and the C.O. 272 /2019 and the Jammu and Kashmir Re-Organization Bill 2019.

Recognizing that the peoples of Jammu & Kashmir are facing a repressive onslaught, a lockdown of the spaces of their homes and streets, that their lives and liberty are at risk, we state that the Jammu and Kashmir Re-Organization Bill 2019 is unconstitutional, immoral, and totally devoid of legality. As recently as 2017, the Supreme Court held that Article 370 is “not a temporary provision†.

The manner in which the State of Jammu & Kashmir has been annihilated spells an imminent danger to all provinces, parts and territories within the Indian Union. It is a direct assault on the federal structure of the Indian constitution, and violates all the promises and commitments made to the peoples of Jammu & Kashmir.

We recognise the peoples of Jammu & Kashmir as the most important stakeholders of their lives and land.

We demand, immediately, that

1. No steps about the future of Jammu & Kashmir are taken without the consent of the peoples of Jammu & Kashmir.

2. An immediate scaling back of the troops (armed forces and paramilitaries) deployed in Jammu & Kashmir.

3. An immediate restoration of communication infrastructure, mobile telephony and the internet.

4. An immediate lifting of restrictions on civil society and political leaders in Jammu & Kashmir, and demand that no further arrests be made.

We appeal to all sections of society, political parties, trade unions, student organizations and individuals to stand with Kashmiris, especially young people and students from Jammu & Kashmir who are in workplaces, neighbourhoods and educational institutions everywhere in India.

We express our solidarity with the peoples of Jammu & Kashmir, and wish to assure them that we stand by them in the quest for justice and peace.

Endorsed By:

1. Aarti Sethi
2. Abha Bhaiya, Women’s Rights Activist
3. AbhaDev Habib, Miranda House, University of Delhi
4. Abinash Dash Choudhury, Democratic Rights Activist, Jadhavpur University
5. Admiral L Ramdas, Former Chief of Naval Staff, Magsaysay Awardee
6. Afthab Ellath, Software Architect
7. Akhila Vasan
8. Akhtar Gorchani
9. Akshita
10. Ambar Srivastava, Delhi
11. Ameena Haleem
12. Amit Kumar, National Alliance of Peoples’ Movement
13. Ammu Joseph, Bangalore
14. Anchal, Delhi Solidarity Group
15. Anil T V, Delhi Solidarity Group
16. Animesh Das, Indian Federation of Trade Unions
17. Ankit Agarwal, Media Practitioner, New Delhi
18. Ankit Dash
19. Ankita Gupta
20. Ankur Sarin
21. Anita Giri, CPI
22. Anita Sethi, Jawaharlal Nehru University
23. Anivesh Gadre, Student
24. Anoop, Jagori Grameen, Himachal Pradesh
25. Anshu Malviya
26. Anuradha Bhasin, Editor, Kashmir Times
27. Anvar Rajan
28. Amuran Dasgupta, Delhi
29. Apeksha Priyadarshi, Bhagat Singh Ambedkar Students Organization, JNU
30. Apoorvanand, Professor, University of Delhi
31. Apurva Bamezai, Delhi
32. Arati S Kade, TISS, Mumbai
33. Archiman Mukherjee
34. Arfa Anis, Student
35. Arjama
36. Arun Mohan, Delhi Solidarity Group
37. Arun Srivastava, Secretary General, Loktantrik Janta Dal
38. Arundhati Dhuru, National Alliance of Peoples’ Movement
39. Arunima G, JNU
40. Aryaman Jain, National Alliance of Peoples’ Movement
41. AS Vasantha Kumari
42. Asha Hans, Feminist Author, PIPFPD- Odisha
43. Asha Latha, Social Activist, Hyderabad
44. Ashish Sharma
45. Asmita Ghosh, Feminism in India
46. Ashok Chowdhury, All India Union for Forest Working People
47. Aswathy Senan, Researcher, Delhi Solidarity Group
48. Athira Unni, Jawaharlal Nehru University
49. Atul Gurtu, PIPFPD, Mumbai
50. Avani Khare, Ambedkar University Delhi
51. Ayaz Ahmad, Delhi Solidarity Group
52. Ayesha Kidwai, JNU
53. B.R. Patil, Deputy Speaker, Karnataka Assembly
54. Banojyotsna
55. Bari Masoud, Journalist
56. Badri Raina, Delhi
57. Benu Mohanlal, Kerala
58. Bhamati Sivapalan, Filmmaker
59. Bhargavi, Pakistan India Peoples’ Forum for Peace and Democracy
60. Bhawana Anjali
61. Bishop Dr Ravikumar Stepehen G, PIPFPD
62. Bishwadeep Mitra
63. Brinelle Dsouza, PUCL
64. Buta Singh, Writer and Activist, Punjab
65. Chingari Vashum, Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights
66. Deepika Joshi, Jan Swasthya Abhiyan, Chhattisgarh
67. Dev Desai
68. Dhrupadi Ghosh, Jamia Millia Islamia
69. Dhruv Sood
70. Dimple Oberoi Vahali
71. Dinesh Abrol, Author
72. Dinesh Mohan, Professor, IIT Delhi
73. Dipayan Dutta
74. Dithhi Bhattacharya
75. Divyansh Thakur, National Alliance of Peoples’ Movement
76. Debasish S, West Bengal
77. Dr. Sunilam, National Convener, Samajwadi Samagam
78. Dr. Sylvia Karpagam
79. Dunu Roy
80. Ekta Malhotra
81. Forum Against Oppression of Women
82. Freny Manecksha
83. Gargi, National Federation of Indian Women
84. Gauhar Raza, Retired Scientist, Poet
85. Gautam Mody, New Trade Union Initiative
86. George Chirappurathu
87. Geetika, Delhi
88. GP Mishra, Journalist
89. Gurman Singh, Student
90. Godavar
91. Gururaj Raut, Maharashtra
92. Haris Kidwai, Pakistan-India Peoples’ Forum for Peace and Democracy
93. Harsh Kapoor, Editor sacw.net
94. Hiya Singh Rajput, IWWAGE
95. Himanshu Damle, Researcher
96. Ima V R, Student
97. Ishwor, Delhi Solidarity Group
98. Jamal Kidwai, PIPFPD
99. Jatin Desai, Senior Journalist, Mumbai
100. Javed Anand, Gujarat
101. Jeet Kumar
102. Jean Dreze, Economist
103. Jibin Robin, Delhi Solidarity Group
104. Joe Athialy, Financial Accountability Network
105. Jogin Sengupta
106. John DSouza, Mumbai
107. Jaydeep, Progressive Democratic Students Union
108. K Satchidanandan, Poet, Writer
109. K. B. Saxena, Former Secretary, Government of India
110. K.M.Thomas
111. Kabeer, Pune
112. Kamayani
113. Karnataka Janarogya Chaluvali
114. Kaveri Chaudury, Researcher, Delhi Solidarity Group
115. Kavita Krishanan, All India Progressive Women’s Association
116. Kavita Srivastav, Peoples’ Union for Civil Liberties
117. Khairunnisa Nakatho, MANUU, Hyderabad
118. Khushdeep Kaur, Delhi
119. Koninika Ray, National Federation of Indian Women
120. Konika, Communist Party of India Marxist
121. Kotaiah Bonthu
122. Krishna Koshal, Student
123. Kong Posh Bazaz, Student
124. Labia Collective
125. Lalita Ramdas
126. Laxmi Murthy, Journalist, Bangalore
127. M. Mohan Rao, National Federation for Handloom and Handicrafts
128. M. R. Sharan, Delhi
129. M.S. Bhatt, Former Professor of Economics, Jamia Millia Islamia
130. Maansi Verma, Lawyer
131. Manjusha Madhu, Jawaharlal Nehru University
132. Madhu Sahni
133. Madhubanti De
134. Madhuresh Kumar, National Alliance of Peoples’ Movement
135. Madhusmita
136. Madihur Rahman
137. Maju Varghese, Delhi Solidarity Group
138. Man Adhikar
139. Mandira Bhattacharya
140. Manimala, Pakistan India Peoples’ Forum for Peace and Democracy
141. Manodeep Guha
142. Manoranjan Mohanty, Professor, Council for Social Development
143. Manu Mathew, Delhi
144. Mathews, Pakistan India Peoples’ Forum for Peace and Democracy
145. Marvi Sethia, Student
146. Medha Patkar, Narmada Bachao Andolan
147. Meena Menon
148. Meera Sanghamitra, National Alliance of Peoples’ Movement
149. Milind Champanerkar, Pakistan India Peoples’ Forum for Peace and Democracy
150. Mohamed Khader Meer, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sevagram
151. Mohd Aasif
152. Monica, Delhi
153. Musthujab Makkolath, Delhi Solidarity Group
154. ND Jayaprakash, DSF
155. NS Gomin, CPI (M)
156. Naazim, Pakistan India Peoples’ Forum for Peace and Democracy
157. Nadeem Khan, United Against Hate
158. Nagraj Adve, Member, India Climate Justice
159. Nalini Menon, Amedkar University Delhi
160. Nandita Narain, University of Delhi
161. Navdeep Mathur, IIM, Ahemdabad
162. Naveen Gaur, University of Delhi
163. Navsharan, Karwaan-e-Mohabbat
164. Neelanjan, Delhi
165. Neelanjana Shakya
166. Neera Adarkar, Architect & Academic, Mumbai
167. Nishank, Researcher
168. Nivedita Menon, JNU
169. Nishant Upadhyay, Delhi
170. Nizni Hans
171. Noihrit Gogoi, Delhi
172. Nofil Meraj
173. Olencio Simoes, Goa
174. Padma Singh
175. Pallavi Aggarwal, Ambedkar University Delhi
176. Pallavi Paul
177. Pamela Philipose, Journalist
178. Parul, Jawaharlal Nehru University
179. Pawan Kumar
180. Poonam, Pragathisheel Mahila Sangathan
181. Prabir Sinha Roy
182. Prachi Lohia,
183. Prafulla Samantara, Goldman Environment Award Recipient
184. Prakash Meghe
185. Pramod Puztankara, Lawyer
186. Prasad Chako, Social Activist
187. Pratyusha Chaudhury
188. Priya, Student
189. Priya Darshini, Financial Researcher
190. Priya Pillai, Mahan Sangharsh Samiti
191. Priyanka K, Freelance Journalist, Andhra Pradesh
192. Punit Minz, Jharkhand
193. Purshottam Sharma
194. Raja Rabbi Hussain, India Inclusive
195. Rajkumar Sinha, Chutka Sangharsh Samiti
196. Rajni Soren, Advocate, Chhattisgarh
197. Ramesh Yadav, Pakistan India Peoples’ Forum for Peace and Democracy
198. Ravi Nair, South Asia Human Rights Documentation Centre
199. Ravikiran Jain, Senior Advocate
200. Ravi B, Delhi
201. Reetika Khera, Researcher and Columnist
202. Reyaz Ahamad, MWF
203. Riddhi D, Student
204. Rita Manchanda, South Asia Forum for Human Rights
205. Ritu Dewan, Economist, Mumbai
206. Riwetso Sarah
207. Ritwick Khanna, Student
208. Roma, All India Union for Forest Working People
209. Rosamma Thomas, Pune
210. Rosemary Dzuvich, Nagaland University
211. Roshmi Goswami, Feminist Social Activist, Shillong, Meghalaya
212. Ruchhita Kazaria, Peace Activist, Kolkata
213. S.Gunalan, Advocate
214. Sachin N
215. Saghamitra
216. Sahil Malik
217. Sajan Thomas, Kerala
218. Salim Saboowalla
219. Samya Pal
220. Samvid Uday, Student
221. Sandeep Pandey, Lok Rajniti Manch
222. Sanjeev, Delhi Solidarity Group
223. Sarath Chelloor, Cultural Activist, Kerala
224. Sareena Khan, Chhattisgarh
225. Sara Khan
226. Sashi Kumar, CPM
227. Satyam Srivastav, Bhumi Adhikar Andolan
228. Saurabh Misra, United Against Hate
229. Savita Vijaykumar, Researcher
230. Seema Kulkarni
231. Shabnam Hashmi, Social Activist
232. Shahreyar Khan, United Against Hate
233. Shefali Saini, TISS Mumbai
234. Shekhar Sonalkar
235. Sher Bahadur, Delhi Solidarity Group
236. Shuddhabrata Sengupta, Author
237. Shweta Tripathi, Bhumi Adhikar Aandolan
238. Siddharth Chakrovarty, Researcher
239. Smriti Nevatia, Writer and Film Festival Curator, Mumbai
240. Soumya Mandi
241. Sruti Ravi
242. Sudha Reddy
243. Sudip Chakraborty
244. Sudipta Mondal
245. Suhasini Mulay, Actor
246. Suman Bharti
247. Sumit Chakravarty, Journalist
248. Sunil Kumar, Jawaharlal Nehru University
249. Sushil Khanna, Professor
250. Susobha Bharve, Social Activist
251. Sweta Dash, Student, Ambedkar University
252. Syeda Hameed, Former Member of Planning Commission, PIPFPD
253. Tani Alex, New Delhi
254. Tanisha Karen
255. Tanmayee Chakrovarty
256. Tapan Bose, Film Maker, Peace Activist, PIPFPD
257. Teesta Setalvad, Human Rights Activist
258. Thingon Choudhury, Jawaharlal Nehru University
259. Thomas Franco, President Rebuild Kanniyakumari Movement
260. Trishita
261. T. Peter, National Fishworkers Forum
262. Toko Tatunn, Arunachal Pradesh
263. Tonzin, Jawaharlal Nehru University
264. Ujjwal Dhruvtara, Allahabad
265. Umesh Babu, Researcher, Delhi Solidarity Group
266. Umesh Nazir, Jharkhand
267. United Against Hate
268. Uzma Azeez
269. V. Laxmi Sharma
270. V. Alam Bosco, Researcher
271. Veena Das, Baltimore, USA
272. Venkatesh Nayak, RTI Activist
273. Vijay Singh
274. Vijayan MJ, Pakistan-India Peoples’ Forum for Peace and Democracy
275. Vijaykumar S
276. Vikas Bajpai
277. Vikash Shivram
278. Vimal Bhai, Matu Jan Sangathan
279. Vimal T V, IT Services
280. Vishal Sharma, Himachal Pradesh
281. Vishrut Aggarwal
282. Xavier Dias, Jharkhand
283. Yamini Nibhnupudhi
284. Zafar Bakht, Pakistan India Peoples’ Forum for Peace and Democracy
285. Zeba Khan