New Delhi, Mar 22: The Muhammad Yasin Malik-led Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) was banned on Friday for “promoting” secession of Jammu and Kashmir from the Union of India, officials said here.
Banning the outfit under various provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act after a high-level meeting on security chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, officials said the Centre is of the opinion that the JKLF is “in close touch with militant outfits” and is supporting extremism and militancy in Jammu and Kashmir and elsewhere.
They said the outfit claims “secession of a part of the Indian territory from the union” and supports militant and separatist groups fighting for this purpose.
Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba said the JKLF has been banned as the government has a policy of zero tolerance against terrorism.
The Home Secretary said the government is committed to relentlessly pursuing a policy of curbing the activities of secessionist groups which are threat to the country.
The other reason for banning the outfit was that the cadres of the JKLF were indulging in activities intended to disrupt the territorial integrity of India, the officials said.
Malik is at present lodged in Kot Balwal jail in Jammu.
As many as 37 FIRs have been registered against the JKLF by the Jammu and Kashmir Police, Gauba said.
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.
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.
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) March 22, 2019
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.
— Sajad Lone (@sajadlone) March 22, 2019
For 4 1/2 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.
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) March 22, 2019
