Unifying policies of Modi government have tossed separatism out of J&K, says Amit Shah

Srinagar: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday hailed the decision of two constituents of the Hurriyat Conference to sever their ties with separatism.

In a post on social media platform X, Shah highlighted that separatism in Kashmir was now a thing of the past, crediting the policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government that separatism is now “tossed out of Jammu and Kashmir.”

“Two organizations associated with the Hurriyat have announced the severing of all ties with separatism. I welcome this step towards strengthening Bharat's unity and urge all such groups to come forward and shed separatism once and for all,” he said. “It is a big victory for PM Shri @narendramodi Ji's vision of building a developed, peaceful and unified Bharat,” the post reads.

The two groups that have severed ties with the Hurriyat Conference are the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Movement (JKPM) and the Democratic Political Movement.

Shahid Saleem, chairperson of JKPM, issued a statement on Tuesday saying: “I, Shahid Saleem, Chairman of JKPM, hereby declare that my organization and I have no affiliation with either APHC(G) or APHC(A) or any other entity that supports separatism or similar agendas. We do not support the ideology of APHC, which has failed to address the legitimate aspirations and grievances of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”

In March 2019, when IAS officer Shah Faesal quit bureaucracy and launched his own party by the identical name and style, Saleem had taken strong exception, saying his party was launched on April 4, 2000 at the Press Club Jammu, and it became a constituent member of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC).

The decision of Hurriyat constituents to distance themselves from separatist ideologies could mark a significant turning point for the separatist conglomerate. The Hurriyat Conference, which includes various separatist organizations in Kashmir, has long been accused by the government of supporting separatism and militancy, leading to crackdowns on its leaders and finances in recent years.

The development comes shortly after the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) imposed a five-year ban on the Mirwaiz Umer Farooq-led Awami Action Committee (AAC) and J&K Ittihadul Muslimeen (JKIM), led by Shia leader Masroor Ansari, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The ban was imposed for their alleged involvement in anti-national activities, supporting terrorism, and inciting secessionist sentiments in the Union Territory.

Mirwaiz, who is the chairman of the separatist Hurriyat Conference and the chief cleric of Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid, Kashmir’s most influential mosque, plays a key role in the region’s separatist movement. Ansari, the leader of JKIM, is another prominent figure within the Hurriyat.