Kashmir turned into open air prison: Mehbooba after JKLF ban
Srinagar: PDP president Mehbooba Mufti Friday said ban on the Yasin Malik-led Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front was a “detrimental step” that will turn Kashmir into an open air prison.
The JKLF was banned on Friday for “promoting” secession of the militancy-hit state from the Union of India, officials said in New Delhi.
“Detrimental steps like these will only turn Kashmir into an open air prison,” Mehbooba said in a tweet.
Banning the outfit under various provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act after a high-level meeting on security chaired by Prime Minister NarendraModi, officials said the Centre is of the opinion that the JKLF is “in close touch with militant outfits” and is supporting extremism and militancy in Jammu and Kashmir and elsewhere.
They said the outfit claims “secession of a part of the Indian territory from the union” and supports terrorist and separatist groups fighting for this purpose.
Mufti said, “Yasin Malik renounced violence as a way of resolving J&K issue a long time ago. He was treated as a stakeholder in a dialogue initiated by then PM Vajpayee ji. What will a ban on his organisation achieve?” she asked. (PTI)