MHA bans Jammu Kashmir National Front under UAPA for 5 years
Jammu, Mar 12: Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Tuesday banned Nayeem Ahmed Khan-led Jammu Kashmir National Front (JKNF), under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, with immediate effect, for five years.
A notification, issued by MHA, this evening stated that it was necessary to declare JKNF as an ‘unlawful association’ with immediate effect for its “anti-national activities which are detrimental to the territorial integrity, security and sovereignty of the country.”
Central government has invoked its powers conferred by sub-section (1) of the section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (37 of 1967) to declare it as an “unlawful association.”
The notification said, “The JKNF, chaired by Nayeem Ahmad Khan, is indulging in unlawful activities, which are prejudicial to the integrity, sovereignty, and security of the country. The members of the JKNF have remained involved in supporting terrorist activities and anti-India propaganda for fuelling secessionism in Jammu and Kashmir and providing logistic support to terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir.”
It stated that the leaders and members of JKNF had been “involved in mobilising violent protesters in various parts of Kashmir for perpetrating unlawful activities, including supporting terrorist activities and sustained stone-pelting on Security Forces in Jammu and Kashmir.”
“JKNF has constantly asked the people of Kashmir to refrain from taking part in elections and thereby targeted and hampered the very basic constitutionally recognized fundamentals of Indian democracy. Front and its members by their activities show sheer disrespect towards the constitutional authority and constitutional set up of the country,” the notification mentioned.
It further said that JKNF was involved in “promoting, aiding and abetting secession of Jammu and Kashmir from India by involving in anti-national and subversive activities; sowing seeds of dis-affection amongst people; exhorting people to destabilise law and order; encouraging the use of arms to separate Jammu and Kashmir from the Union of India; promoting hatred against established Government and giving clarion call to boycott elections on multiple occasions in Jammu and Kashmir.”
As per the notification, the central government was of the opinion that if there was no immediate curb or control of unlawful activities of the Jammu Kashmir National Front (JKNF), it would use this opportunity to continue with the anti-national activities which are detrimental to the territorial integrity, security and sovereignty of the country.
“It will continue advocating the secession of Jammu and Kashmir form the Union of India while disputing its accession to the Union of India and propagating false narrative and anti-national sentiments among the people of Jammu and Kashmir with the intention to cause disaffection against India and disrupt public order,” it said.
Due to these reasons the central government was firmly of the opinion that having regard to the activities of the Jammu Kashmir National Front (JKNF), it was necessary to declare the JKNF as an ‘unlawful association’ with immediate effect, the notification said.
“The central government, having regard to these circumstances, is of firm opinion that it is necessary to declare the Jammu Kashmir National Front (JKNF) as an ‘unlawful association’ with immediate effect, and accordingly, in exercise of the powers conferred by the proviso to sub-section (3) of section 3 of the said Act, the central government hereby directs that this notification shall, subject to any order that may be made under section 4 of the said Act, have effect for a period of five years from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette,” the MHA notification read.
