Since the partition of the Indian subcontinent, religious and pro-freedom political parties have faced various restrictions in Jammu and Kashmir. However, the recent ban on two socio-religious parties has shattered the illusion of a normalised political landscape, a narrative that has been consistently promoted.

Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen, the only party in the pro-freedom camp of the All-Party Hurriyat Conference Alliance, was previously outside the scope of the Indian government’s restrictions. However, the party has been banned for five years due to its alleged ongoing religious and social activities and close association with Mir Waiz Maulvi Umar Farooq. Similarly, Mir Waiz Umar Farooq’s Public Action Committee (PAC) has also been banned despite its long-standing focus on religious matters and its claim to be a socio-religious party with no connection to separatist ideology. Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, stated that both of these parties are involved in activities that disrupt public order and support terrorism and anti-national activities. This message was disseminated on micro-blogging platforms to ensure it reached domestic and international audiences.

The Awami Action Committee condemned the government’s actions, describing them as a continuation of harassment and disempowerment policy 

In response to the ban, the Awami Action Committee condemned the government’s actions, describing them as a continuation of harassment and disempowerment policy that began against the people of Jammu and Kashmir after the abolition of internal autonomy in 2019. The committee asserted that “truth can be suppressed, but not silenced.

“Earlier, the Public Action Committee had expressed in various messages that it seeks to represent public sentiments democratically and desires a peaceful solution to the Kashmir dispute, advocating for talks between India and Pakistan to alleviate the suffering of millions affected by this long-standing issue in the subcontinent.” This stance contradicts the BJP government’s narrative regarding the Kashmir dispute, which portrays ‘Azad Kashmir’ held by Pakistan as a territory to be recaptured, either through force or by enticing the local population with citizenship offers. Recently, protests have been observed among Kashmiri nationalists demanding independence from Pakistan, leading some Pakistani analysts to claim that India is supporting these movements, similar to the allegations made against Pakistan during the insurgency in the Valley.

Political analyst Rohit Arora states that, “India has changed the game’s rules and developed a strong capacity to infiltrate Pakistan through proxies and strike hard against those assets that Pakistan reserves for its strategic interests.”

The Mirwaiz faction is often perceived as closer to India’s position than Pakistan’s, while Geelani’s Hurriyat Conference has openly advocated for accession to Pakistan

The patterns of attacks and counterattacks within Pakistan, including the targeting of pro-Kashmir activists and violent incidents in Jammu and Kashmir over recent years, demonstrate this aggressive policy on both sides. Meanwhile, bans and restrictions serve as additional tools to silence voices advocating for the Kashmir dispute.It is important to note that Mirwaiz Kashmir also leads the All-Party Hurriyat Conference, which has sparked controversy in freedom-loving circles due to its more moderate stance after parting ways with the late Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s faction. The Mirwaiz faction is often perceived as closer to India’s position than Pakistan’s, while Geelani’s Hurriyat Conference has openly advocated for accession to Pakistan. Although Pakistan has utilised Geelani to suit its interests, it has distanced itself from him at times when seeking improved relations with India at the expense of the Kashmir movement.

Surprisingly, the Mirwaiz family has been saying that the Awami Action Committee(ACC) has nothing to do with Kashmir’s politics and that its activities have been focused on purely religious and social issues. But hardly anybody in Kashmir believes this. After the partition of the subcontinent, the political dispute and its resolution were the priority for AAC, as was the National Conference. There was a sharp political clash between the pro-Pakistan Mirwaiz family and pro-India Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah’s National Conference, which came into prominence as lion-goat politics in Jammu and Kashmir.

In the early 1960s and 1970s, the Bakra (Goat) supporters had such influence in downtown Srinagar that no pro-India Sheikh Abdullah’s National Conference worker, i.e., the Lion supporters, could even think of passing through this area. In contrast, the Civil Lines areas were full of Lion members and a no-go zone for the Bakra supporters.

The Public Action Committee(PAC) has been a victim of restrictions and harassment since the party was founded in 1963. At that time, the holy relic at the Hazratbal shrine went missing, which played an essential role in smoothing its religious affairs. At that time, it was considered a religious institution rather than a political one.

This incident created a seismic tremor in Kashmiri politics when the pro-Pakistan crowd created a ruckus by singing the ‘Pakistan Ka Ghazi’ lyric during the rousing welcome given to the Indian Prime Minister

The party’s political role became more visible in 1977 when former Prime Minister Morarji Desai was invited to the Mirwaiz Manzil located in the downtown.This incident created a seismic tremor in Kashmiri politics when the pro-Pakistan crowd created a ruckus by singing the ‘Pakistan Ka Ghazi’ lyric during the rousing welcome given to the Indian Prime Minister. The rhythm was usually sung for heroes fighting to gain access to Pakistan, which would surge emotions among the local population.

The pro-India National Conference termed it interference and trespassing in its Indian politics, which it did not want anyone else to share with and snatched its exclusive right of being Indian in the Valley. After the formation of the Hurriyet Conference, AAC faded into the background and was hardly mentioned until its recent ban.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq stayed house arrested soon after the abrogation of Article 370, and only last year was he permitted to lead the Friday prayers in Jamia Mosque. However, he is often detained in his house. The last few months were too hectic when Mirwaiz was seen meeting several Indian Muslim leaders and appeared unexpectedly before a parliamentary committee to express his stand on the Muslim Waqf Board amendments, where he was not allowed to speak.

A few weeks ago, Muslim scholars from Jammu and Kashmir met Mirwaiz and raised their voices against the undue interference of some parties and sects in religious affairs and urged the people to remain united against such elements who have become accustomed to baking political bread by creating rifts between different sects. Several parties, including Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen, vowed to thwart any attempt against sectarianism and anti-Muslim policies. Maybe that was not expected by the government, thinking it has silenced all saner voices in the Valley.

The government had banned Jamaat-e-Islami and closed its schools and other social reform institutions. Given this, some leaders wanted to express their changing position by contesting the assembly elections as independent candidates, but they had to face electoral defeat.

Facing its imminent disappearance, the leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami announced the formation of a new political party, the Jammu and Kashmir Justice and Development Party, and resumed their engagement in mainstream politics

Facing its imminent disappearance, the leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami announced the formation of a new political party, the Jammu and Kashmir Justice and Development Party, and resumed their engagement in mainstream politics. The party leader, Sayyar Ahmed, stated that they would continue to participate in elections ranging from local bodies to the assembly and parliament in the future. After reconciling with their new political reality, the pro-freedom group partly attributed their situation to Pakistan’s deceitful attitude, which left them without hope for the future.

“The aim of banning the Awami Action Committee and Ittehad-e-Muslimeen is actually to eliminate the history and symbols connected to our region’s freedom movement and religion.”

Both factions of the Hurriyat Conference have now been completely dismantled, with most of their leaders in the valley either imprisoned or in hiding. The identities and marks of complete freedom fighters and pro-Pakistan elements have also been erased in the valley, and the ban on socio-religious parties is restructuring society at large.According to media reports, police raided various locations, including booksellers in Srinagar. During these raids, materials related to Jamaat-e-Islami and the history of Kashmir were seized.

Additionally, the police halted a Quran distribution operation despite public outcry against this action. Social activist Amir Ali states, “The aim of banning the Awami Action Committee and Ittehad-e-Muslimeen is actually to eliminate the history and symbols connected to our region’s freedom movement and religion.”

The government appears determined to introduce new regional political dynamics, roles, and slogans that will align with India and respect its integrity and sovereignty. In this politically engineered setup, the government aims to redefine the roles of leaders like Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and other freedom fighters, provided they accept this new framework. While there has been no clear indication that they will comply, various sources suggest that the government is secretly working on a significant political project. This project seems focused on erasing history, struggles, and symbols, seeking to create a new leadership model that embodies Indianness without relying on traditional mainstream political parties.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not represent the views, beliefs, or policies of the Stratheia.