Calls Grow for Lifting Ban on Mirwaiz Umar Farooq’s Awami Action Committee

Is banning religious organizations fostering peace, or deepening divides in IIOJK? Prominent Sikh and Kashmiri leaders demand a rethink.

Chairman of the All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC), Jagmohan Singh Raina, has urged the Indian authorities to revoke the ban imposed on the Mirwaiz Umar Farooq-led Awami Action Committee (AAC) in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). Raina emphasized that the AAC is a religious organization committed to unity, peace, and social reform.

Highlighting the long-standing contributions of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and his late father, Raina underscored their consistent advocacy for brotherhood and communal harmony in IIOJK. He noted that both leaders have played pivotal roles in fostering social reforms, always encouraging unity among Kashmir’s diverse communities.

“Kashmir cannot afford further fragmentation. We cannot isolate every group or organization—our strength lies in walking together,” Raina stressed, warning against policies that may deepen divisions within society.

Echoing similar sentiments, J&K Peace Forum leader Satish Mahaldar also criticized the ban and called for its immediate review. In his statement, Mahaldar urged the Indian government to reconsider the decision and avoid creating obstacles in Mirwaiz Umar Farooq’s work, which has always focused on the welfare of the Kashmiri people.

“Mirwaiz Umar Farooq is a deeply respected religious and political figure. His title, the Mirwaiz of Kashmir, holds significant reverence and has been passed down through generations in his family,” Mahaldar pointed out. He stressed that undermining such an influential figure could have adverse effects on the region’s social cohesion.

Both leaders emphasized the need for inclusive dialogue and peaceful cooperation to maintain unity and stability in the region. They urged authorities to remove restrictions that hinder community leaders from performing their religious, social, and political roles effectively.

Observers believe that banning organizations like the AAC only fuels alienation among the people and disrupts efforts toward peacebuilding. They argue that engaging respected leaders like Mirwaiz Umar Farooq is essential for ensuring long-term harmony in Jammu and Kashmir.

The voices from both Sikh and Kashmiri leaderships are calling for the ban on the Awami Action Committee to be lifted, urging the government to prioritize unity over division.