JKLF ban unites Kashmiri leaders, shrinking space for peaceful dissent, says Sajad Lone

The Centre has banned separatist Yasin Malik's Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The outfit has been banned for alleged promotion of secessionist activities in Jammu and Kashmir. "Central government has today declared Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (Yasin Malik faction) as unlawful association under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. This is in accordance with policy of zero tolerance against terrorism followed by government," Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba said.

The ban has united politicians in Kashmir across political lines, former chief minister and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti while hitting out at the Centre over its decision said, “Yasin Malik renounced violence as a way of resolving J&K issue a long time ago. He was treated as a stakeholder in a dialogue initiated by then PM Vajpayee ji. What will a ban on his organisation achieve? Detrimental steps like these will only turn Kash into an open air prison (sic).”

National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah said, “For four-and-a-half-years, Yasin Malik isn’t a threat, Jamaat Islami isn’t a threat, Pakistan National Day is a function that must be attended. Now, suddenly once an election is announced, an immediate u-turn is executed.”

Sajad Lone, speaking on similar lines said, “From underground to overground. Was part of those arrested in a raid in Barzalla to arrest Yasin Malik in 1990. JKLF renounced violence in 90s. It was tantamount to suicide. At great risk Yasin Malik took that decision. And now stands banned. Shrinking space for peaceful dissent.”

This is the second organisation in Jammu and Kashmir which has been banned this month. Earlier, the Centre had banned the Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir for five years under anti-terror law on grounds that it was ‘in close touch’ with terrorist outfits and was expected to ‘escalate secessionist movement’ in the state. The ban was ordered by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) after a high-level meeting on national security, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On February 14, at least 42 CRPF personnel were killed in one of the deadliest terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district when a Jaish suicide bomber rammed a vehicle carrying over 30 kg of explosives into their bus in Pulwama district that also left many critically wounded.