Kashmir Political Shift: Why did Mirwaiz Umar Farooq remove the designation of ‘Hurriyat Chairman’ from his X and Facebook profile? Does this signal the end of separatist politics in Kashmir? Read the full reason and political meaning.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq News: There has once again been a stir in the politics of Kashmir Valley. Valley’s prominent cleric and separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has removed the designation ‘Chairman All Parties Hurriyat Conference’ from his social media profile. This small change has raised big political questions. Has Mirwaiz said goodbye to the separatist politics of Kashmir, or is there some compulsion hidden behind it?
What changed in X and Facebook profile?
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has removed the mention of ‘Hurriyat Chairman’ from his Verified Now his X bio only contains name and basic location information. The Facebook profile depicts him only as ‘Spiritual leader of Kashmiri Muslims’. He has over two lakh followers on his X account, which makes this change even more significant.
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Was this decision taken under pressure?
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq himself has answered this question. He said that he was being continuously pressurized by the authorities to remove the designation of ‘Hurriyat Chairman’ from his social media handles. The reason given was that Hurriyat Conference and all its constituent organizations, including the Awami Action Committee, have been banned under the UAPA law. In such a situation, Hurriyat is now considered a banned organization. According to Mirwaiz, if he had not made this change, his social media account could have been closed.
Why is social media important for them?
Mirwaiz clearly said that in today’s time when the avenues of public meetings, political activities and dialogue have become very limited, then social media is the most important medium for him to convey his message to his people and the outside world. In such a situation he had no other option left.
Is this a sign of distance from separatist politics?
Sources say that this step may not be just a technical change but a big political signal. It is believed that Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the leading voice of the moderate Hurriyat, is now gradually distancing himself from separatist politics. Although he has not made any such announcement directly, removing the designation from the profile raises many questions.
Why did the influence of Hurriyat Conference decrease?
The All Parties Hurriyat Conference, formed in 1993, was once considered very powerful in the politics of Kashmir. It played a big role in bandhs, protests and political mobilization. But in the last decade, due to internal strife, arrest of leaders and strict policies of the central government, the organization became weak. The situation changed further after the removal of Article 370 in 2019, when most of the components of Hurriyat were banned.
What will change next?
Whether this step of Mirwaiz points towards a new phase in Kashmir politics or it is just a compulsion of circumstances – only time will tell. But it is certain that the removal of ‘Hurriyat Chairman’ is not a simple profile edit, but a decision with deep political significance.