MHA bans Masarat Alam faction of Muslim League J-K, seeking to establish Islamic rule in India

New Delhi: The 'Muslim League Jammu Kashmir Masarat Alam faction (MLJK-MA) was declared an 'Unlawful Association' under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) by the Home Minister, as announced on X. Additionally, this ban on the Masarat Alam faction will remain in place for five years from the date of issue. Union Home Minister Amit Shah cited the organisation's involvement in anti-national and secessionist activities in Union territories of Jammu & Kashmir, supporting terrorism, and inciting people to establish ‘Islamic rule’ in the region. 

“This organisation and its members are involved in anti-national and secessionist activities in J&K supporting terrorist activities and inciting people to establish Islamic rule in J&K," the Home Minister said. 

Further underlining the government's stance, Shah stated that PM Narendra Modi's administration unequivocally stands against any actions that threaten the unity, sovereignty, and integrity of the nation. He reiterated that those opposing the nation's fundamental values will face the full force of the law.

Ministry of Home Affairs in its notification said that Muslim League Jammu Kashmir (Masarat Alam faction) chaired by Masarat Alam Bhat is known for its anti-India and pro-Pakistan propaganda and the objectives of MLJK-MA are to get freedom of Jammu and Kashmir from India so as to realize the merger of Jammu and Kashmir with Pakistan and establish Islamic rule in Jammu and Kashmir. The MHA using powers conferred by sub-section (1) of the section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (37 of 1967), the Central Government hereby declares the Muslim League Jammu Kashmir (Masarat Alam faction) as an unlawful association.

Why was MLJK-MA banned?

The decision to designate the Muslim League Jammu Kashmir (Masarat Alam faction) as unlawful stems from its history of promoting anti-India and pro-Pakistan propaganda. Founded by Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat alongside Masarat Alam in 1988 at the behest of Pakistan, the group has been innvolved in an array of activities aimed at destabilising the UT. Masarat Alam Bhat, the chief of the Muslim League, became involved in terrorism in the 1990s, later aligning with the Geelani-backed Hurriyat wing.

The group, according to reports, has been accused of engaging in various anti-India activities, including pelting stones at security personnel, raising funds through multiple sources— notably Pakistan and its proxy organizations— to support unlawful activities such as terrorism and continual stone-pelting on security forces in Jammu and Kashmir.

Bhat was directly linked to unlawful activities and served as the commander of the Pakistan-backed terror group Hizbul Mujahideen. The Ministry's notification too highlighted his anti-national activities that blatantly disregarded the constitutional authority and sovereignty of the Indian state. Bhat was involved in supporting terrorist activities with an intent to create a reign of terror in the country, thereby endangering the security and public order of the State, and its anti-national activities also show disrespect and disregard to the constitutional authority and sovereignty of the State, read MHA notification. MHA has also termed the activities of Muslim League as detrimental to the territorial integrity, security and sovereignty of the country and they have been 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. The ban will remain in place for five years from the date of issue.
 

(With inputs from Gursimran Singh)