The Government of India on Tuesday declared Jammu and Kashmir Ittehadul Muslimeen ( JKIM) and Awami Action Committee ( AAC) as unlawful associations for a period of five years under section 3 ( I) of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act ( APA) 1967. There was a definitive background and outlook behind this.
As the government’s actions against the subversive organizations have shown, this step also establishes that such actions would continue in future, as the Modi Government, with Amit Shah as Home Minister, is committed to preserve peace in J&K and pre-empt all threats to the integrity and sovereignty of Bharat.
The timings might have surprised some quarters giving rise to a question, why these organizations were banned when it is established beyond any doubt that Jammu and Kashmir in general, and the Kashmir Valley, in particular, has witnessed a new era of peace. J&K made its transition from high turbulences to normalcy and peace following the abrogation of Article 370 more than five years ago – to be precise August 5-6, 2019. These are peace times and by now the Government has controlled all inimical groups and individuals.
NEWS ANALYSIS
This can be easily explained as it is never too late to take action against the organizations nurturing subversive intentions and translating these in reality. The inimical actions and tendencies have a past, present and future. These do not go away soon unless there is change of heart. That change of heart was neither visible nor audible in the current times when peace has made Kashmir as its permanent home.
As is evident from the past record, which the MHA placed in public domain, there were instances when these groups were part of the shutdown calendars and encouraged stone pelting and offered a political and social support system to militancy that left behind a story of bloodshed and destruction. That apart, the organizations were seeking to cast a shadow on the peace which has been achieved after so many sacrifices made by soldiers and others. They, according to MHA, were working to incite the people.
The appeal to the people, sections of whom are still vulnerable to the religious fanaticism and extremism, could have recreated a situation of the dark hours in the history of Kashmir. This design had the potential to wreck normalcy and peace in the region.
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah outlined the broader objective behind the move. In a post on X platform, he said that” these organizations were found inciting people to cause law and order situations, posing a threat to the unity and integrity of Bharat. He said that anyone found involved in activities against the nation’s peace, order, and sovereignty is bound to face the crushing blow of the Modi government.”
The MHA explained that the “members of ‘Jammu & Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen’ (JKIM)’ and ‘Awami Action Committee (AAC)’ are involved in promoting and aiding the secession of Jammu and Kashmir from India by indulging in anti-national and subversive activities, such as sowing seeds of discontent among the people; inciting people to destabilise law and order; supporting terrorism and promoting hatred against the established Government.”
Essentially, the action taken by the MHA on Tuesday is directed against the attempts to inject religious extremism in socio-political life in Kashmir, and it is universally acknowledged fact now that religious extremism drives violent acts.