Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Removes Hurriyat Chairman Tag From X Profile

Srinagar, Dec 26: Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Thursday evening removed the designation “Chairman, All Parties Hurriyat Conference” from his verified X profile, a move that has drawn attention amid the changing political landscape in Jammu and Kashmir.

The updated bio on the Mirwaiz’s X handle now carries only his name and basic location details. He has a following of over two lakh users on the platform.

The Mirwaiz, a chief cleric and considered a moderate separatist voice in the Kashmir Valley, was not immediately available for comment on the change. His own organisation, the Awami Action Committee, has been banned by the Centre under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), formed in 1993 as an umbrella body of separatist groups in Jammu and Kashmir, once held significant influence and was instrumental in coordinating protests, shutdowns and political mobilisation.

Over the past decade, however, the Hurriyat’s influence has waned due to internal divisions and a sustained crackdown by the Centre, which has adopted a tougher stance against separatist organizations. (Agencies)