The Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday banned Mirwaiz Umar Farooq’s Awami Action Committee under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for five years. The order also extended to ‘Jammu & Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen’ headed by Masroor Abbas Ansari.
The two organisations have been banned for “inciting people to cause law and order situations, posing a threat to the unity and integrity” of the country, said Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
“‘Jammu & Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen’ and ‘Awami Action Committee’ have been declared unlawful associations under UAPA,” Shah said in a post on X.
“These organizations were found inciting people to cause law and order situations, posing a threat to the unity and integrity of Bharat,” said the Union minister
“Anyone found involved in activities against the nation’s peace, order, and sovereignty is bound to face the crushing blow of the Modi govt,” he added.
In a notification, the home ministry said the members of the two outfits, by their activities show sheer disrespect towards the constitutional authority and constitutional setup of the country.
It further said that AAC and JKIM are involved in promoting and aiding the secession of Jammu and Kashmir from India by involving in anti-national and subversive activities, sowing seeds of disaffection among people.
The notification also referred to several cases and chargesheets filed by the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the National Investigation Agency against the members of the AAC for their alleged involvement in unlawful activities.
The case booked against AAC leaders like the Mirwaiz, Mushtaq-ul-Islam, Nisar Ahmad Rather and Nisar Ahmad Bhat included shouting slogans against the integrity of India and delivering a speech stating that they would struggle till Jammu and Kashmir is not separated from the Union of India, and for also pelting stones, reported PTI.
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AAC Condemns Action
The AAC led by the Mirawiz condemned the action of the central government saying “this move seems part of the continuation of the policy of intimidation and disempowerment that has been followed viz a viz J&K since August 2019. The voice of truth may be suppressed through force but will not be silenced”.
Taking to X, Mirwaiz said the AAC has unwaveringly stood by the people of Jammu and Kashmir. It said that it has advocated for the aspirations and rights of the people in the valley through completely non-violent and democratic methods.
The Mirwaiz is the chief of the Hurriyat Conference and head cleric of Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid, Kashmir’s grandest and most influential mosque, where he delivers sermons.
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NC, PDP Slam Centre
Ruling National Conference and the People’s Democratic Party also condemned the Centre’s move. Former chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti dubbed the central government’s action as “another blow to Kashmir’s social and political landscape”.
National Conference general secretary and MLA Ali M Sagar said he was “disappointed” to know about the banning of AAC and JKIM.
“The Mirwaiz family has been torch bearers of peace, and communal harmony and helped J&K to keep up with its secular credentials. Such measures do not bring any good to the situation in J&K,” he said in his post on X.
