MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): Chief Organizer Tehreek e Jawanan Kashmir Dr. Raja Zahid Khan has termed the ban on two political parties in Indian Illegally-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) as a practical demonstration of fascism.
The notification to ban the parties was issued by the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs, accusing the organisations of being involved in separatist activities.
Dr. Raja Zahid Khan said that the Indian establishment has imposed a five-year ban on both parties, violating the Universal Charter of Human Rights, which guarantees the rights of political parties even in times of war.
“The shameful aspect of the whole matter is that the Modi government has imposed a ban on 10 political organisations in occupied Kashmir since 2019, all of which represented Muslims, while no order has been issued against any Hindu party.”
Dr Khan said that the ban on political organisations is a setback for the political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir, as suppressing dissenting voices will increase tension and violence, which India has always exploited in the form of oppression.
He further said that democracy is the guardian of citizens’ rights, but the BJP’s political agenda of suppressing voices is being used to bulldoze the fundamental rights of Kashmiris, especially the right to vote.
Kashmiris’ resilience
He, however, expressed hope that the Hindutva mindset will face defeat as always in the face of Kashmiris’ resilience and determination for an independent state.
Pakistan has also denounced the ban on two Kashmir organisations for a period of five years by the Indian authorities.
India banned two political groups in the occupied Kashmir it accused of promoting secessionism in the disputed Muslim-majority region.
India’s home ministry, through an order issued late on Tuesday, declared the Awami Action Committee (AAC) an unlawful association under the country’s stringent anti-terror laws, banning it for five years.
A separate notification announced the five-year ban of the Jammu and Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen (JKIM) which was founded by notable political and religious leader, Maulana Mohammad Abbas Ansari, who headed it until his demise in 2022.
