Shadow Correspondent
Srinagar, Mar 12:
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday criticized the Centre over the ban on Kashmir Chief Cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq’s party, questioning its “muscular policy” in the region.
She called out the contradiction of granting Mirwaiz security cover while banning his organization, warning that such actions were deepening Kashmir’s wounds.
The Centre on Tuesday banned Awami Action Committee (AAC) headed by Mirwaiz and Jammu and Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen (JKIM) led by Masroor Abbas Ansari- for five years for their alleged anti-national activities and fuelling secessionist activities.
“Mirwaiz is a victim himself. His father Maulvi Farooq Sahib was martyred … So I don’t understand one thing on the one hand, the Government of India understood Mirwaiz’s importance and because of that they gave him security cover. On the other hand, his party is banned. This thing is far from my understanding,” Mufti told reporters in Srinagar.
PDP chief Mufti termed the ban as part of the union government’s “muscular policy” and accused it of targeting socio-political organizations.
She questioned whether such actions were a way to exert pressure on political and religious leaders in Kashmir.
Mufti asked the union government as to how long they will continue with the muscular policy in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Now somewhere people need a healing touch. There is a need for softness. In this case, when you take such a big action against a religious head, it hurts Kashmir more,” she said.
The PDP leader also expressed concerns about the silence of the J&K government on the ban of Mirwaiz’s party
“People had hoped that an elected government would change things, but instead, things are getting reversed. When the Jamaat-e-Islami was banned by the BJP, we used to say that there is an LG rule and what will we do. But today, with an elected government in place much injustice is happening. And the ruling party is sitting silent and is not doing anything,” she said.
Mufti argued that actions once considered abnormal are now being normalized due to “government inaction”.
“Injustice is happening openly, yet those in power remain silent, making it seem like everything is fine,” she said.
