March 23, 2019
NEW DELHI: The Central Government has banned the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation
Front led by Mohammad Yasin Mailk for promoting “anti-national and subversive
activities."
The outfit was banned under various provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention)
Act after a meeting on security held under by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Government is of the opinion that the JKLF organization is involved in
“anti-national and subversive activities and is in close touch with militant
outfits and is supporting extremism in the State,” the notification issued by
the Union Home Ministry on Friday stated.
The notification, No. 1403 (E) dated March 22, 2019, says the party propagates
“anti-national and separatist sentiments and escalates secessionist movements.”
As such the origination stands banned as per the provisions of sub- sections
(1) and (3) of section 3 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 for a
period of five years, it said.
"The activities of the JKLF are a serious threat to the country and are prejudicial
to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of India. This organisation has
been actively and continuously spreading feelings of hatred against the lawfully
established Government and has been indulging in armed rebellion. Thirty-seven
FIRs have been registered by the JK police against JKLF. It has also been involved
in terror financing," the Home Secretary said.
Peoples Democratic Party chief and former State Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti
said the ban is a detrimental step. “Yasin Malik renounced violence as a way
of resolving Jammu and Kashmir issue a long time ago. He was treated as a stakeholder
in a dialogue initiated by then PM [Atal Bihari] Vajpayee ji. What will a ban
on his organisation achieve? Detrimental steps like these will only turn Kashmir
into an open air prison.”
National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said: “For [four and a half] years
Yasin Malik isn’t a threat, Jamaat Islami isn’t a threat, Pakistan National
Day is a function that must be attended. Now suddenly once an election is announced
an immediate U-turn is executed.”
Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq also opposed the ban. “Such anti- Kashmir
tactics will not change the reality of the Kashmir issue nor the urgency to
resolve it,” he tweeted.
