Centre bans two J&K organisations for five years under UAPA
New Delhi: The Union Government has banned two organisations in Jammu and Kashmir, accusing them of spreading anti-India propaganda and encouraging secessionism. The Union Minister of Home Affairs (MHA) on Tuesday declared the Awami Action Committee (AAC) and Jammu and Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen (JKIM) as unlawful associations under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, imposing a five-year ban.
According to the Centre, AAC, led by Umar Farooq, has been involved in activities that allegedly threaten India's integrity, sovereignty, and security. The group is accused of mobilising funds for unlawful activities, supporting separatists, and showing disrespect to the Constitution. The government also claimed that AAC members have been booked in several criminal cases for making inflammatory speeches and supporting militant groups. Investigations by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and state police have led to multiple cases against the organisation under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code and UAPA.
Similarly, JKIM is accused of raising funds to facilitate separatist and militant activities in the region. The government alleged that the organisation has promoted public unrest, encouraged armed struggle against the state, and incited hatred against the government.
The ban was imposed under s. 3(1) of the UAPA, with the government also exercising powers under s. 3(3) to enforce the prohibition for five years from the date of the official notification.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
