The Centre has banned two factions of the Muslim Conference in Kashmir. The government’s move is the first such against the moderate Hurriyat Conference constituent under Mirwaiz Umar Farooq’s leadership. According to news agency PTI, the factions led by Abdul Ghani Bhat and Ghulam Nabi Sumji were banned for promoting anti-India sentiments and pro-Pakistan propaganda, along with discouraging participation in elections.
Abdul Ghani Bhat’s group held a strong position within the moderate Hurriyat Conference after the faction’s split in 2003, while Ghulam Nabi Sumji’s faction aligned with the conglomerate led by the late pro-Pakistani figure Syed Ali Shah Geelani. The Centre banned at least four constituents of Geelani’s faction, including Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah laid emphasis on the government’s commitment, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to eradicate terrorism. The Home Minister warned of severe consequences for those engaging in unlawful actions.
Shah took to X and said, “Striking terror networks with undiminished vehemence the government has declared the Muslim Conference Jammu & Kashmir (Sumji faction) and Muslim Conference Jammu & Kashmir (Bhat faction) as Unlawful Associations”. “These outfits have been engaging in activities against the sovereignty and integrity of the nation,” Shah added.
Striking terror networks with undiminished vehemence the government has declared the Muslim Conference Jammu & Kashmir (Sumji faction) and Muslim Conference Jammu & Kashmir (Bhat faction) as Unlawful Associations.
These outfits have been engaging in activities against the…
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) February 28, 2024
On Tuesday, the central government extended the ban imposed on the Jamaat-e-Islami, Jammu Kashmir (JeI), by another five years for continuing activities that pose a threat to the security of the nation, as reported by PTI.
The Union Home Ministry issued a notification on Wednesday in which it said that the Muslim Conference Jammu and Kashmir- Sumji faction (MCJK-S), chaired by Ghulam Nabi Sumji, is known for its anti-India and pro-Pakistan propaganda and its members have been involved in supporting terrorist activities and providing logistical support to terrorists in J-K, as reported by PTI.
According to the notification, the leaders and members of MCJK-S have been involved in raising funds through various sources including from Pakistan and its proxy organisations for perpetrating unlawful activities, including supporting terrorist activities and sustained stone-pelting on security forces in Jammu and Kashmir.
The home ministry said, the MCJK-S has been constantly asking the people of Kashmir to refrain from participating in elections and thereby targeted and hampered the very basic constitutionally recognised fundamentals of Indian democracy.
The ministry further stated that the MCJK-S, through its activities, has shown sheer disrespect towards the constitutional authority and constitutional setup of the country. The Home Ministry also stated that MCJK-S has been indulging in unlawful activities that are prejudicial to the integrity, sovereignty, and security of the country.
The Home Ministry said that the government is of the opinion that if there is no immediate control of unlawful activities of the Muslim Conference Jammu and Kashmir (Sumji faction), it will use this opportunity to carry on with the anti-national activities which are detrimental to the territorial integrity, security and sovereignty of the country.
“Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of the section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (37 of 1967), the central government hereby declares the Muslim Conference Jammu and Kashmir (Sumji faction) (MCJK-S) as an unlawful association,” it said, as quoted by PTI. The ban will continue for five years, it stated.