Srinagar, Mar 11: Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has strongly condemned the Centre’s decision to ban the Awami Action Committee (AAC), calling it an attempt to silence the voice of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
In a post on X, Mirwaiz denounced the government’s move to declare AAC an “unlawful association” under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). He described the ban as part of a broader policy of “intimidation and disempowerment” being pursued in Jammu and Kashmir since August 2019.
“Formed by Shaheed-e-Millat at the peak of the Holy Relic agitation in 1964, AAC has unwaveringly stood by the people of J&K, advocating their aspirations and rights through completely non-violent and democratic methods,” Mirwaiz wrote.
He added that AAC has consistently called for the peaceful resolution of the Kashmir conflict through dialogue, and its members have endured jail, incarceration, and even martyrdom in pursuit of this cause.
“The voice of truth may be suppressed through force but will not be silenced,” he asserted.
The government’s decision to ban AAC, along with the Jammu and Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen (JKIM), has drawn criticism from various quarters, with opponents calling it an attempt to stifle political and religious organisations in the region. However, the Centre maintains that both groups were involved in activities that threatened national security. [KNT]
