Synopsis
Sunil Sharma, the Leader of Opposition in J&K, supports the ban on Awami Action Committee and JK Ittehadul Muslimeen by the Ministry of Home Affairs. He criticizes Mehbooba Mufti for opposing the decision, stating that such organizations threaten national unity. The ban is for five years, addressing separatist sentiments in the region.Key Takeaways
- Sunil Sharma supports the ban on ACC and JKIM.
- Criticism of Mehbooba Mufti for opposing the ban.
- Organizations accused of undermining national unity.
- Ban effective for five years under the unlawful activities Act.
- Emphasis on protecting the Constitution and citizens' rights.
Jammu, March 12 (NationPress) The Leader of Opposition (LoP) and BJP MLA in the J&K Legislative Assembly, Sunil Sharma, on Wednesday expressed his support for the Ministry of Home Affairs's decision to impose a ban on the Awami Action Committee (ACC) and JK Ittehadul Muslimeen (JKIM), while also criticizing former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti for her dissent.
Speaking with IANS, Sunil Sharma stated, “In J&K, two organizations, the Awami Action Committee led by Maulvi Umer Farooq and the Ittehadul Muslimeen led by Abbas Ansari, have been working against the unity of India.”
“The Ministry of Home Affairs has taken the commendable step to ban these two organizations. The BJP supports the decision made by the union home ministry to prohibit these separatist groups under the unlawful activities (Prevention) Act. No individual or organization should be permitted to act against the integrity and unity of the nation,” Sharma remarked.
In response to Mehbooba Mufti, the PDP president, who opposed the ban, Sharma commented, “The PDP is a party founded on separatist sentiments. Organizations like Hurriyat and Jamaat-e-Islami are the core of the PDP. Whenever radical and anti-India entities face repercussions, her discomfort is evident in her remarks.”
Regarding the recent comments from Congress leader Rashid Alvi, who spoke about the supposed targeting of Muslims, Sharma said, “These parties have thrived on a policy of division and appeasement, which contradicts the essence of the Constitution, and such practices will no longer be tolerated.”
It is noteworthy that the Union Home Ministry has prohibited both the ACC and the JKIM for a duration of five years.
On Tuesday, the MHA issued two notifications banning both the Mirwaiz Umer Farooq-led ACC and the Maulvi Masroor Abbas-led JKIM.
The ACC was established by the late Mirwaiz Maulana Mohammad Farooq in 1963 during the agitation surrounding the holy relic. Following his assassination in 1990, his son, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, succeeded him as the head of the ACC.
The JKIM was founded by Maulvi Abbas Ansari, and after his passing, his son, Maulvi Masroor Ansari, took over as its leader.
Shortly after the ban was announced, Mehbooba Mufti took to X to express her opposition. She stated that the MHA’s action represents “another blow to Kashmir’s social and political landscape.”
“Suppressing dissent will only exacerbate tensions rather than alleviate them. The J&K government must act to halt such measures. Democracy encompasses more than just elections; it involves safeguarding citizens’ fundamental rights. While silencing the voices of Kashmir may serve the BJP’s political aims, it undermines the very Constitution that protects these rights. The central government must reconsider its strategy and abandon heavy-handed tactics,” she wrote on X.
