Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir – Srinagar police recently arrested the president of Awami Awaz Party, Suhail Khan, and his two colleagues for making “anti-national” remarks and threatening media persons during a press conference in Srinagar. The Awami Awaz Party, a political group that had been on the forefront of hoisting the national flag across the Kashmir valley and holding protests against terrorist attacks, announced that they would fight for the freedom of Kashmir.
Khan claimed that his party was formed by the army but have now changed their mind after seeing atrocities on the people especially the damage being done to the poor people of J&K in the name of Anti-Encroachment drive. The police arrested the trio after their announcement, which Omar Abdullah, the former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, called “another army experiment gone rogue.” The Awami Awaz Party had mushroomed in the Kashmir valley after the revocation of Article 370 in August 2019.
Although the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Shri Manoj Sinha has been saying that poor people will not be harassed during the State-Land drive.
The Awami Awaz Party’s claim of being formed by the army has raised questions about the involvement of the military in politics. In his press conference, Suhail Khan had explicitly mentioned that his party was formed by the army. The Indian Army has denied any involvement with the Awami Awaz Party or any other political group in the region. The army has stated that it is apolitical and does not support any political party or group.
The statement by Suhail Khan has also raised concerns about the influence of the military in the Politics. The Indian government had previously justified the deployment of military forces in the region to counter terrorism and maintain law and order. However, various political leaders have raised concerns about the impact of military in the politics of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Awami Awaz Party’s announcement about fighting for the freedom of Kashmir has also led to a debate about the issue of militancy in the region. The Indian government had revoked Article 370, which granted a special status to Jammu and Kashmir, in August 2019. The move had been controversial, and many groups had opposed it, including mainstream political parties in the region. The Awami Awaz Party had emerged as a new player in the region, and their announcement about fighting for freedom has raised questions about the future of politics in Jammu and Kashmir.