Mirwaiz Umar Farooq invokes former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee in appeal to lift ban on his group | India News

Hurriyat Conference Chairman and Chief Cleric of Jammu and Kashmir Mirwaiz Umar Farooq

SRINAGAR: In his first public address after the Centre’s recent ban on his Awami Action Committee (AAC), Mirwaiz Umar Farooq invoked Friday the name of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee while seeking revocation of the curbs.
The head of separatist Hurriyat Conference’s moderate faction recalled a 2004 meeting with then PM Vajpayee to assert his party had always pushed for reconciliation, dialogue, peace and talks. The Centre banned AAC under the stringent UAPA last week. “The decision is harsh and uncalled for, and should be revoked,” Mirwaiz said.
According to Mirwaiz, his party “kept up good faith and continued with the dialogue and engagement” despite attacks on his house and Hurriyat leaders. “It is a different thing that the present governing dispensation in New Delhi does not have the same take on the issue. But that does not make AAC an unlawful association,” Mirwaiz said.
Insisting that AAC had always practised politics of outreach and resolution, Mirwaiz asked how advocates of dialogue and peace could be described as “subversive”. “Dialogue in itself means seeking solutions and resolving disagreements by talking in good faith and peace,” he argued.
Mirwaiz recalled that on Jan 22, 2004, he had led a delegation for talks with the Centre with then Deputy PM LK Advani despite opposition from the hardline faction of Hurriyat. Mirwaiz led another delegation on March 27, 2004, to then PM Vajpayee. Later, during Congress-led UPA govt’s tenure, a Mirwaiz-led team held talks with PM Manmohan Singh on Sept 5, 2005.
Mirwaiz described AAC, founded by his grandfather Mirwaiz Yousuf Shah in 1964, as a socio-religious organisation known for welfare activities, medical and blood donations camps, with no political ambitions.
The Union home ministry declared AAC and another group, JKIM, as banned organisations on March 10. JKIM is headed by Masroor Abbas Ansari, son of a late separatist leader. Union home minister Amit Shah posted on X that the two “organisations were found inciting people to cause law and order situations, posing a threat to the unity and integrity of Bharat”. He warned that “anyone found involved in activities against the nation’s peace, order, and sovereignty is bound to face the crushing blow of Modi govt”.