Daijiworld Media Network - Srinagar

Srinagar, Dec 26: Hurriyat Conference chairman and cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has removed the designation “Chairman All Parties Hurriyat Conference” from his X (formerly Twitter) profile, retaining only his name and location details. Mirwaiz has over 2.31 lakh followers on the social media platform.

The move comes amid a sharp decline in separatist activity in Jammu and Kashmir following the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, and the Centre’s sustained crackdown on separatist organisations.

Explaining the decision, Mirwaiz said he was under pressure from authorities to make changes to his X handle, as all constituents of the Hurriyat Conference, including the Awami Action Committee (AAC) led by him, have been banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

“For some time now, I was being pressed by the authorities to make changes to my X handle as Hurriyat chairman, as all constituents of Hurriyat Conference, including the Awami Action Committee that I head, have been banned under the UAPA, making Hurriyat a banned organisation, failing which they will take down my handle,” Mirwaiz said in a post.

He added that the platform remains one of the few avenues available to him to communicate with people. “At a time when public space and avenues of communication stand severely restricted, this platform remains among the very few means available to me to reach out to my people and share my views on our issues with them, and the outside world. Under such circumstances, it is a Hobson’s choice I was left to make,” he said.

The Centre has accused the Mirwaiz-led AAC of engaging in unlawful activities detrimental to the sovereignty, integrity and security of the country, alleging involvement in supporting militant activities and spreading anti-India propaganda to fuel secessionism in Jammu and Kashmir.

Mirwaiz headed the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference, while the hardline faction is led by jailed separatist leader Masrat Alam. The Hurriyat Conference, an umbrella body of separatist groups, was formed in 1993 during the peak of militancy in the Valley and wielded significant influence until 2019, often calling for shutdowns and leading major agitations in 2008, 2010 and 2016.

Following the abrogation of Article 370, the Centre adopted a firm approach against separatists, banning several organisations and arresting prominent leaders. As a result, separatist politics has significantly receded, with the Hurriyat Conference losing much of its influence. Many senior leaders remain in jail, while others have distanced themselves from separatist politics.

Mirwaiz was placed under house detention after August 2019 and was released nearly five years later following directions from the Jammu and Kashmir High Court. Since his release, he has largely refrained from commenting on sensitive political issues, limiting his public engagement to social matters. He continues to deliver Friday sermons at Srinagar’s historic Jamia Masjid and solemnise nikah khwani ceremonies.