Mirwaiz Drops Hurriyat Title on X, Citing Govt Pressure
Mirwaiz Drops Hurriyat Title on X, Citing Govt Pressure
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq removes the Hurriyat Conference title from his X profile, blaming government pressure after bans on Hurriyat members. Reactions range from calls for peace to accusations of compromise.
In Srinagar, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq removed his designation as Hurriyat Conference chairman from his X profile, saying authorities pressed him to change it and calling it a Hobson’s choice. For some time now, he said, he was being pressured to modify the handle as all constituents of Hurriyat, including Awami Action Committee that he heads, have been banned under UAPA, making Hurriyat a banned organization. He warned that authorities would take down his profile if he did not comply, describing the move as a clamp on a key outreach outlet to his supporters and the outside world.
The removal comes amid restrictions that have kept the public space tightly controlled in the region. Mirwaiz, who was under house arrest for years after the 2019 abrogation of Article 370, had only recently gained relative freedom before further constraints were imposed. The social media curbs arrived as he was prevented from addressing Friday prayers at Srinagar’s Jamia Mosque, underscoring how authorities continue to limit his public visibility.
Context around Hurriyat is crucial: the alliance of secessionist parties has faced bans and legal scrutiny since the August 2019 political changes, with many of its constituents proscribed under law. In this environment, Mirwaiz described X as one of the few platforms left to reach his base and engage with both supporters and critics.
Reactions were swift. Mehbooba Mufti, former chief minister and PDP president, called the move immaterial, arguing that Hurriyat is an idea that reflects alienation, and that removing names from platforms does not address the underlying issue. PDP MLA Waheed Parra supported Mirwaiz's decision, saying the priority should be peace. The BJP framed the development as evidence that separatism’s path is over, signaling a shift in the political landscape of the region.
