SRINAGAR: In the backdrop of Union Home Minister Amit Shahโs ongoing three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, a fresh political development has taken center stage โ yet another former separatist faction has distanced itself from the secessionist narrative.
Bashir Ahmad Andrabi, head of the Jammu & Kashmir Liberation Assembly (JKLA), declared on Monday his unconditional commitment to the Constitution of India, stating publicly that both he and his outfit have no involvement with the Hurriyat Conference โ either the Mirwaiz-led group or the one formerly guided by Syed Ali Geelani โ or with any other secessionist alliance operating in the region.
โWe categorically reject the viewpoint of the Hurriyat Conference. It has consistently failed to represent the true concerns and aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,โ Andrabi said in his statement. โWe are now firmly aligned with the democratic and constitutional framework of India and will not associate ourselves with any element that undermines the nationโs unity.โ
The development comes days after Home Minister Amit Shah, in a post on X dated March 25, hailed the decline of separatist sentiment in the Union Territory. As per a communique from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Shah credited the Modi governmentโs cohesive and firm strategies for dismantling separatist networks in Kashmir.
The official release quoted Shah as welcoming the announcements made by two other groups earlier aligned with the Hurriyat, acknowledging their renunciation of separatist politics. He encouraged other factions to follow their lead in the larger interest of fostering harmony and unity across the nation.
โSeparatism has been consigned to history in Kashmir,โ Shahโs statement read. โThe integrative policies of the Modi administration have successfully dismantled the roots of secessionism in Jammu and Kashmir.โ
In his message, Shah reiterated his endorsement of the steps taken by the groups and said it strengthens the resolve of building a progressive, peaceful, and united Bharat โ a goal championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The recent moves by the Jammu & Kashmir Peopleโs Initiative (JKPI) and the United Democratic Voice (UDV) were the first visible signs of this shift. In the first week of March, both organizations announced a complete break from the Hurriyat Conference.
Advocate Mohammad Shafi Reshi, who chairs the UDV and once served as the political advisor to hardliner Syed Ali Geelani, declared his exit from separatist activism. Notably, he is also the uncle of Yasir Reshi, a PDP leader, former legislator and close associate of party chief Mehbooba Mufti.
Mohammad Shahid Mir, who heads JKPI and hails from Poonch, also made a formal announcement rejecting the separatist path and detaching his outfit from Hurriyatโs fold. Mir has been vocal on digital platforms in recent years and was among the visible young faces within separatist-aligned circles.
Historically, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference fractured into two main streams โ one led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and the other by Syed Ali Geelani. Following Geelaniโs death, leadership of that faction passed to Masarat Alam Bhat, its current acting head.
Since the central governmentโs landmark decision on August 5, 2019, to revoke Articles 370 and 35A and reorganize J&K into two Union Territories, the Hurriyat has struggled to maintain relevance, with much of its structure rendered inactive.
The successive withdrawal of separatist-aligned groups from the Hurriyat umbrella marks a significant moment in Kashmirโs evolving political landscape โ one that the central government sees as a validation of its approach towards integration and stability in the region.
