Senior religious leader and chief priest of Kashmir, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, revealed that authorities had urged him to remove the title of ‘Hurriyat Chairman’ from his social media profile, citing restrictions on Hurriyat Conference constituents under UAPA. Mirwaiz Umar expressed that maintaining his online presence was crucial amidst limited communication avenues, describing the situation as a difficult decision he had to make.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who was the initial chairman of the separatist group All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) established in 1993, emphasized the organization’s stance on Kashmir as a “dispute” and its call for the implementation of UN resolutions. Following the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, APHC was outlawed, prompting scrutiny of its affiliates for alleged ties to Pakistan and ISI.
Since the disbandment of APHC in 2019, separatist activities in Jammu and Kashmir have dwindled, with former members distancing themselves from the group’s ideology. Previously, APHC served as a platform for announcing protests and shutdowns orchestrated by militant factions, but such events have significantly decreased under direct Central rule.
The region has witnessed a return to normalcy post-2019, with educational institutions, businesses, and tourism operating without disruption from separatist influences. The Awami Action Committee (AAC), founded by Mirwaiz Umar’s father during the 1963 Holy Relic agitation, has also faced a ban, aligning with the broader crackdown on separatist entities in Kashmir.
