Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said the Centre has not shared any intelligence with his government that could have warranted the ban on Mirwaiz Umar Farooq’s Awami Action Committee (AAC), and stated he was not in favour of such decisions.
The Centre on Tuesday banned the AAC, headed by Hurriyat Conference chairman and cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and Shia leader Masroor Abbas Ansari-led IM for five years for their alleged anti-national activities, supporting terrorism and fuelling secessionist activities.
“I do not know the basis of the ban. This is not under the purview of the elected government in J&K and the intelligence on the basis of which it has taken place has not been shared with us,” Omar told reporters here after the culmination of the fifth edition of the Khelo India Winter Games.
However, Omar said, “On principle, we have never been in favour of such decisions”.
“Since Mirwaiz was released from house arrest, I have not seen any objectionable statements from him, but we do not have any information about the reasons behind the ban. But, we will see what to do about it in the future,” he said.
To a question whether the ban was because of Mirwaiz’s criticism of the recently held fashion show at the resort, CM Abdullah said, “You cannot say that”.
The fashion show in the ski resort of Gulmarg during the fasting month of Ramzan evoked widespread criticism, with Mirwaiz Umar Farooq saying obscenity in the name of tourism promotion will not be tolerated.