J&K’s governance dilemma amid political uncertainty and parallel power structures

A few days before his assassination on May 21, 1990, Mirwaiz Moulvi Mohammad Farooq, a prominent cleric in Srinagar, reached out to public intellectual and long-time friend Balraj Puri. Nearly 35 years after the assassination of Mirwaiz Farooq, the Ministry of Home Affairs has declared the Jammu and Kashmir Awami Action Committee, led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and the Jammu and Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen, founded by the late Mohammad Abbas Ansari, as “unlawful associations” for the next five years. However, what makes the recent bans even more significant is that they come amid ongoing political uncertainty and confusion in J&K, particularly regarding the coexistence of two parallel structures — the Chief Minister and the Lieutenant Governor. This includes ensuring local ownership of the political structure, representing and empowering the population, addressing political aspirations, healing past wounds, and fostering national awareness of J&K’s unique socio-political realities to create a more informed discourse. In J&K, where historical grievances and political sensitivities run deep, their role goes beyond governance — they must translate public sentiment into meaningful dialogue and policy action.