Srinagar, April 7: Another prominent separatist voice has formally disassociated from the Hurriyat fold and pledged unconditional allegiance to the Constitution of India.
The latest to distance himself from the separatist ideology is Bashir Ahmad Andrabi, son of Mohammad Amin Andrabi, Chairman of the Kashmir Freedom Front (KFF), a once-prominent name in the separatist camp.
In a signed public declaration accessed by Srinagar based news agency Kashmir Dot Com, Andrabi categorically stated that neither he nor his organization ‘Kashmir Freedom Front’ has “any ties whatsoever” with the All Parties Hurriyat Conference – be it the Geelani (G) or Mirwaiz (M) factions – or with any other separatist group.
“We strongly oppose the ideology of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, as it has failed to effectively address the aspirations and grievances of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” Andrabi said in the declaration.
He warned that any unauthorized use of his or his organization’s name in association with the Hurriyat or related factions would invite strict legal action.
“My organization and I are dedicated to upholding the Constitution of India. We do not affiliate with any group that works against the interests of India,” he affirmed.
*Wave of Renunciations Continues*
This development follows a string of similar declarations made just last week by other key figures from the separatist ecosystem.
Among them, Ghulam Nabi War, Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Tehreek-i-Istiqamat, publicly cut all ties with the APHC factions, stating that the Hurriyat had “lost the ground” and “failed at every step to represent the people’s aspirations.”
Speaking to the Media, War declared, “I have long before implicitly severed my ties with separatist ideology and today, I officially and explicitly sever my connections from either of the factions.” He made it clear that neither his name nor that of his organization shall be used in connection with any ideology contrary to the idea of India, warning of legal consequences for any such misuse.
“Any misadventure in this regard shall have to face legal action and bear the brunt of the law of the land,” he said, according to Kashmir Dot Com.
*Momentum Gathers Against Separatist Politics*
The political momentum against separatism has been steadily building. Just a day before War’s announcement, two organizations – Jammu & Kashmir Democratic Political Movement (DPM) and Jammu and Kashmir People’s Movement – had publicly disassociated themselves from the Hurriyat, a move that drew praise from Home Minister Amit Shah.
Calling it a “significant victory for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a peaceful and united India,” Shah hailed the shift as a testament to the growing national integration in the region post the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.
*Symbolism in Shah’s Visit*
The timing of Andrabi’s declaration on the day of Home Minister Amit Shah’s arrival in Srinagar today, is seen as highly symbolic. Political observers note it as another signal of the crumbling of separatist structures in the Valley and the rise of a new political narrative that aligns itself with the Indian constitutional framework.
As more former Hurriyat leaders and outfits drift away from separatist politics, the latest wave of resignations is being seen as a clear indicator that the ideological space once occupied by the Hurriyat is ‘rapidly shrinking’ – making room for a political discourse anchored in constitutionalism, peace, and development, they said. (KDC)
