Separatist leader Drops ‘Hurriyat Chairman’ Title from X Profile

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the prominent chief cleric and a key moderate separatist figure in the Kashmir Valley, quietly edited his verified X profile on Thursday evening to remove the designation "Chairman All Parties Hurriyat Conference." The updated biography now includes only his name and basic location information, stripping away any reference to his long-held leadership role in the separatist alliance. With over two lakh followers on the platform, the change immediately drew attention from observers monitoring political developments in Jammu and Kashmir.

The All Parties Hurriyat Conference, established in 1993 as an umbrella organization uniting various separatist entities, once exercised considerable influence in orchestrating widespread shutdowns and mobilizing political activities across the region. Over the past decade, however, the conglomerate's authority has significantly diminished due to persistent internal divisions, factional disputes, and intensified governmental measures aimed at curbing separatist operations. These challenges have progressively weakened the structure that previously served as a central coordinating body for dissent against central authority.

The decline accelerated following the 2019 abrogation of Article 370, which prompted the central government to impose bans on numerous constituent organizations within the APHC under stringent legal provisions. Many senior leaders faced arrests, charges under anti-terror laws, or chose to retreat from active public engagement, further fragmenting the alliance and reducing its operational capacity. The Mirwaiz's own Awami Action Committee has also been proscribed by the Centre, adding to the constraints on his political activities.

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Attempts to obtain comments from Mirwaiz Umar Farooq regarding the rationale behind the profile alteration proved unsuccessful, as he remained unavailable for immediate clarification. The subtle yet symbolic modification has sparked speculation about potential shifts in his public positioning amid evolving political realities in the region.

This development underscores the broader transformation of the separatist landscape in Jammu and Kashmir, where once-dominant entities like the Hurriyat Conference have seen their influence erode substantially under sustained regulatory and enforcement actions by the authorities. The removal of the chairman title from a high-visibility platform signals a notable departure from established identifiers associated with the separatist movement.

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