Yechury to Speak Only After ‘Reporting’ to Court on J&K Visit, Says CPI(M) Chief

CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, whom the Supreme Court on Wednesday permitted to visit Jammu and Kashmir, said he would comment on the matter only after returning and “reporting” to the court.

The court’s order

The court allowed Yechury to travel to the state to see Mohammed Yusuf Tarigami, a former MLA and fellow party member, held by the authorities since the Centre scrapped the Article 370 provisions that gave the state special status.

The bench, led by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, said Yechury could meet only Tarigami and must not use the trip for political purposes. Should he engage in political activity, the authorities could bring it to the court’s notice, the bench said.

In a tweet, Yechury said he had been permitted to go to Srinagar to see Tarigami and report back on his health. “Once I meet him, return and report to the Court, I will make a more detailed statement,” he wrote.

Earlier attempts

Yechury had tried twice this month to enter Jammu and Kashmir, once with CPI general secretary D Raja and once with a delegation of opposition leaders. On both occasions he was sent back from Srinagar airport on the orders of the state administration, which cited security concerns.

The party had then moved the court through a writ petition under Article 32, which gives a person the right to approach the Supreme Court to protect fundamental rights.

Background

Parliament ended Jammu and Kashmir’s special status under Article 370 in August 2019 and reorganised the state into two union territories.

See also: Communist Party of India (Marxist).

Originally published on 28 August 2019. Rewritten on 9 October 2026.

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