Srinagar, The Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), affiliated with the All Parties Hurriyat Conference in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), has voiced its strong opposition to the Indian government’s recent prohibition of the Muslim Conference Jammu and Kashmir, among other political entities. This action is part of a continuing clampdown on political dissent in the region, further escalating tensions and stifling voices advocating for Kashmiri rights and self-determination.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the ban was officially announced via a tweet from Indian Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday, targeting the Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference factions led by Professor Abdul Ghani Butt and Ghulam Nabi Sumhji. This move adds to a growing list of organizations outlawed by the Modi administration, including the APHC, Jamaat-e-Islami, Muslim League, DFP, Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, JKLF, and Dukhtaran-e-Millat, marking a significant escalation in efforts to suppress the Kashmiri freedom movement.
DFP spokesperson, advocate Arshad Iqbal, condemned these bans as part of a broader strategy by India to quell the Kashmiri struggle for autonomy and rights. Labeling the measures as antithetical to democratic principles and human rights, Iqbal argued that such actions represent a disturbing trend towards silencing legitimate political discourse in the region.
The DFP’s statement highlighted the futility of these bans in deterring the Kashmiri people’s aspirations for freedom and justice. Emphasizing the resilience of the Kashmiri spirit, Iqbal noted that the history of sacrifice and persistence in the face of adversity underscores the movement’s legitimacy and the impossibility of extinguishing it through repressive measures.
This latest development underscores the deepening crisis in IIOJK, where the suppression of political freedoms continues to draw international concern and calls for a peaceful resolution to the longstanding conflict.