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This is a red patch in a green world where Communists thrive in an area surrounded by Islamic militants and the politics of Jamat-e-Islami. ...

Written by Muzamil Jaleel

Kulgam | September 30, 2002 12:00 AM IST

4 min read

This is a red patch in a green world where Communists thrive in an area surrounded by Islamic militants and the politics of Jamat-e-Islami. When South Kashmir goes to polls on Tuesday, all eyes will be on CPIM leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, a hot favourite in his Kulgam constituency.

Tarigami, elected from here in 1996, enjoys substantial clout. His support base, however, has nothing to do with Lenin or Marx. It transcends Left ideology and thrives on personal rapport with villagers.

The only prominent Left face in Kashmir, Tarigami8217;s appeal lies in his poll manifesto. He has sought votes for the promise of a permanent resolution of Kashmir through a thorough dialogue, and a dream of a transparent, accountable, and responsive administration. He shouts for an end to atrocities by police and security forces.

The Jamat-e-Islami candidate had won Kulgam in 1987 and people know it has a massive presence here.Yet Tarigami says: 8216;8216;Even Jamat cadre support me. I have lost three dedicated partymen, killed for being in CPIM. Zahoor Ahmad Ganai was the son of a Jamat rukun basic member.8217;8217;

He said he expects a large chunk of votes from the Jamat too. 8216;8216;These elections are beyond ideologies. They are primarily about an end to the daily sufferings of men,8217;8217; Tarigami said.

8216;8216;People believe me because they have seen my work in the past six years. Kulgam is a remote area but you can see the difference 8212; we have facilities which one hardly finds in big towns. I have worked and I seek votes on the basis of my performance.8217;8217;

A torchbearer of Left politics in Kashmir, Tarigami8217;s is not a new face. He joined the Communists in 1967 and spent over seven years in jail for supporting Leftist politics. 8216;8216;I was jailed under Defence of India Rules DIR. I was the first to be jailed under the draconian Public Safety Act here. It has become a routine nowadays,8217;8217; he said.

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When violence first emerged in the Valley, Tarigami was one of the first political targets. Militants attacked his house and he survived a close call in 1989. In Kashmir, being a Communist is a disadvantage 8216;8216;because people take you to be an atheist8217;8217;, he said. Still, there are takers for real ideology because it involves the man on the street and his problems.

Tarigami has had a hectic 20 days for he has held around 400 rallies in 112 villages across his constituency. This area is known to be a militant bastion, yet none has attacked him or his rally. His lieutenant said: 8216;8216;They are after the ruling National Conference. It is the government which has been suppressing people and committing atrocities, not we,8217;8217; he said.

The ruling party candidate, Ghulam Nabi Dar, however, is optimistic. 8216;8216;The Jamat vote is crucial here. But as there is no direction from that party, it can go in any direction.8217;8217;

A party man nearby immediately said: 8216;8216;They the people talk of Islam, and how can they vote for a party that does not believe in God? The people have to choose between a nimazi one who offers prayers five times a day and an atheist,8217;8217; a party worker said. The NC8217;s poll slogan vividly explains the contours of the Kulgam contest. 8216;8216;Drout doukur mushrave, Islamus vote trave, Khuda sabh yaad thave, Albani vote trave Forget sickle and hammer 8212; the Communists 8212; and vote for Islam; Remember God Almighty and vote for the plough 8212; NC symbol8217;8217;.

Muzamil Jaleel

Muzamil Jaleel is a Deputy Editor at The Indian Express and is widely recognized as one of India’s most authoritative voices on Jammu & Kashmir, national security, and internal affairs. With a career spanning over 30 years, he has provided definitive on-the-ground reportage from the heart of the Kashmir conflict, bearing witness to historic political transitions and constitutional shifts. Expertise and Investigative Depth Muzamil’s work is characterized by a rare combination of ground-level immersion and high-level constitutional analysis. His expertise includes: Conflict & Geopolitics: Decades of reporting on the evolution of the Kashmir conflict, the Indo-Pak peace process, and the socio-political dynamics of the Himalayan region. Constitutional Law: Deep-dive analysis of Article 370 and Article 35A, providing clarity on the legal and demographic implications of their abrogation in 2019. Human Rights & Accountability: A relentless investigator of state and non-state actors, uncovering systemic abuses including fake encounters and the custodial death of political workers. International War Reporting: Beyond South Asia, he provided on-the-spot coverage of the final, decisive phase of the Sri Lankan Civil War in 2009. Landmark Exposés & Impact Muzamil’s reporting has repeatedly forced institutional accountability and shaped national discourse: The Kashmir Sex Scandal (2006): His investigative series exposed a high-profile exploitation nexus involving top politicians, bureaucrats, and police officers, leading to the sacking and arrest of several senior officials. Fake Encounters: His reports blew the lid off cases where innocent civilians were passed off as "foreign terrorists" by security forces for gallantry awards. SIMI Investigations: He conducted a massive deep-dive into the arrests of SIMI members, using public records to show how innocuous religious gatherings were often labeled as incriminating activities by investigative agencies. The Amarnath Land Row: Provided critical context to the 2008 agitation that polarized the region and altered its political trajectory. Over the years, Muzamil has also covered 2002 Gujarat riots, Bhuj earthquake, assembly elections in Bihar for Indian Express. He has also reported the peace process in Northern Ireland, war in Sri Lanka and national elections in Pakistan for the paper. Awards and Fellowships His "Journalism of Courage" has been honored with the industry's most prestigious accolades: Four Ramnath Goenka Awards: Recognized for J&K Reportage (2007), On-the-Spot Reporting (2009), and Reporting on Politics and Government (2012, 2017). Kurt Schork Award: From Columbia University for international journalism. Sanskriti Award: For excellence in Indian journalism and literature. IFJ Tolerance Prize: For his empathetic and nuanced reporting in South Asia. International Fellowships: Served as a visiting scholar at UC Berkeley and worked with The Guardian, The Observer, and The Times in London. He has also received Chevening fellowship and a fellowship at the Institute of Social Studies, Hague, Netherlands. Professional Presence Current Location: New Delhi (formerly Bureau Chief, Srinagar). Education: Master’s in Journalism from Kashmir University. Social Media: Follow him for field insights and rigorous analysis on X (Twitter) @MuzamilJALEEL. ... Read More

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