States, UTs empowered to take action against banned Muslim League Jammu Kashmir and Tehreek-e-Hurriyat

The Central government on Thursday allocated powers to all the States and the Union Territory administration to take action against the banned Muslim League Jammu and Kashmir and Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, Jammu and Kashmir. The Ministry’s action against the group followed input that “the objectives of MLJK-MA are to get the freedom of Jammu and Kashmir from India, realise the merger of Jammu and Kashmir with Pakistan, and establish Islamic rule in Jammu and Kashmir.” As per the MHA notification, the members of the MLJK-MA have been indulging in secessionist activities in Jammu and Kashmir, and the leaders and members of the group have been involved in raising funds through various sources, including Pakistan and its proxy organisations for perpetrating unlawful activities, including supporting terrorist activities and sustained stone-pelting by security forces in Jammu and Kashmir. “The Central government is of the opinion that if there is no immediate curb or control of unlawful activities of the Muslim League Jammu Kashmir, it will use this opportunity to continue with the anti-national activities which are detrimental to the territorial integrity, security and sovereignty of the country; continue advocating the secession of Jammu and Kashmir form the Union of India while disputing its accession to the Union of India; and continue propagating false narratives and anti-national sentiments among the people of Jammu and Kashmir with the intention to cause disaffection against India and disrupt public order,” mentioned the then notification. In its notification, the MHA said that the objective of the TeH is to separate Jammu and Kashmir from India and establish Islamic rule in the Union Territory, and that “the leaders and members of the TeH have been involved in raising funds through various sources, including Pakistan and its proxy organisations for perpetrating unlawful activities, including supporting terrorist activities, sustained stone-pelting on Security Forces in Jammu and Kashmir”. Explaining its action against the TeH, the MHA notification then pointed out, the Central government is of the opinion that “if there is no immediate curb or control of unlawful activities of the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, Jammu and Kashmir, it will use this opportunity to continue advocating the secession of Jammu and Kashmir form the Union of India while disputing its accession to the Union of India; continue with the anti-national activities which are detrimental to the territorial integrity, security and sovereignty of the country; and continue propagating false narrative and anti-national sentiments among the people of Jammu and Kashmir with the intention to cause disaffection against India and disrupt public order.”