New Delhi, The Indian government has escalated its measures against pro-freedom factions in Jammu and Kashmir by empowering all states and union territories to take action against two such groups, indicating a broadened scope of enforcement against dissenting voices in the region.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the administration under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has specifically targeted the Muslim Conference and Jamaat-e-Islami, both based in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). The recent notifications issued by the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs delegate the central government’s powers under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) to local state and UT authorities concerning these organizations.
This decision follows close on the heels of the Ministry’s move to extend the prohibition on Jamaat-e-Islami in IIOJK for an additional five years, citing its anti-India stance and pro-freedom activism. Similarly, the subsequent declaration regarding the Muslim Conference Jammu and Kashmir underscores the government’s resolve to suppress any group perceived as challenging Indian sovereignty over the disputed region.
These actions reflect the Modi administration’s continued efforts to consolidate control over Kashmiri dissent, leveraging legal frameworks to stifle pro-independence sentiments. By delegating authority to states and UTs, the central government aims to ensure a more widespread and coordinated crackdown on groups advocating for Kashmir’s self-determination.
The implications of these measures on civil liberties and political expression in IIOJK and across India remain a subject of intense debate, as these developments further tighten the grip on contested narratives and opposition voices in the troubled region.