A NATIONAL demonstration will take place tomorrow as the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) warned that the revoking of Kashmir’s special status represented the “biggest attack on national unity” in India.

Tens of thousands of Indian troops remained on the streets of Kashmir today as the state remained in lockdown after its special status was revoked on Sunday.

The CPI-M warned against the “authoritarian measures” being taken by the reactionary BJP government, with the arrest of political leaders and a curfew imposed in Kashmir ahead of the controversial decision to rescind Article 370.

“This itself shows that the Modi government is imposing its diktats without the consent of the people,” a party statement said.

The party accused Mr Modi of betraying the people of Jammu and Kashmir and treating it as “an occupied territory.”

It called on the people to join a national demonstration tomorrow and resist “authoritarian attacks” and stand in solidarity with the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Sunday’s decision scrapped an agreement signed in 1949 which gave the Muslim-majority Kashmir region autonomy from India, with the right to its own constitution and exclusive rights to own property.

It is feared that Mr Modi plans a land grab by encouraging Hindus to move into the region and force the Muslim population out.

Critics have warned Mr Modi against creating another “West Bank” in Kashmir — a reference to the occupied Palestinian territories.

But the CPI-M said the move would deepen alienation and warned that the scrapping of Article 370 amounted to an “attack on democracy, secularism and the constitution itself.”

“The CPI-M denounces these measures...They are illegal and unconstitutional.

“We call on all democratic-minded people to join the all-India protest called by all the left parties on August 7,” the statement concluded.