“Separatism has become history in Kashmir,” said Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in response to recent declarations by the Democratic Political Movement (DPM) and the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Movement (JKPM), two groups formerly associated with the Hurriyat Conference, that they have cut all connections with separatism.
Shah credited the unifying policies of the Modi government, which he feels have successfully crushed separatist groups in Jammu and Kashmir, for this development in a statement issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Shah encouraged more organisations to follow their example and hailed these organisations’ decisions as a major step towards promoting peace and harmony in India. He underlined that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s goal of a developed and united Bharat had achieved a “major victory” with this change. “The unifying policies of the Modi government have eliminated separatism in J&K,” Shah wrote in his post on X, reaffirming his assertion that separatism is no longer an issue.
Citing the Hurriyat Conference’s failure to address the justifiable hopes and complaints of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the leaders of JKPM and DPM voiced their disappointment with it.
This action fits into a larger pattern where the government has taken steps to stop separatist activities, such as enforcing anti-terror legislation strictly and implementing socioeconomic reforms to further integrate Jammu and Kashmir into India.
Shah’s comments reflect a sharp contrast to previous years since there has been a notable decrease in violence and separatist activities in the area since 2014. He noted that there has been a significant decline in violent episodes, with the number of civilian deaths falling from 733 in 2004 to just 26 in 2024. A number of government initiatives, such as the repeal of Article 370, which gave Jammu and Kashmir unique status in the past, are blamed for this decline.
A new age for Jammu and Kashmir marked by increased integration and peace inside India is heralded by Shah’s words, which confidently assert that separatist has been successfully tackled under the current administration.
