Haryana Govt Declares JKDFP as an 'Unlawful Association'

Recently, the Haryana Government announced that the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP) is now an 'Unlawful Association' under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. 

• This organization has been involved in anti-national activities since 1998, and its members have been promoting separatism and terrorist acts in India. 
• The government claims that the members of this organization aim to instigate people and make Kashmir a separate Islamic state, which harms India's sovereignty, security, and integrity. Various criminal cases have been filed against this organization under different sections of UAPA, IPC, the Arms Act, and the Ranbir Penal Code.

About Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act

On July 8, 2019, the Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Amit Shah, introduced the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill 2019 in Lok Sabha. The Bill aims to amend the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967, which deals with terrorist activities and related issues through special procedures.

• Under the Act, the central government can identify an organization as a terrorist organization if it engages in or aids acts of terrorism, prepares for it, promotes it, or is involved in any other form of terrorism. The Bill also permits the government to designate individuals as terrorists based on the same criteria.
• According to the Act, any acts that fall within the scope of any of the nine treaties listed in the Schedule are considered terrorist acts. 
• The Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings and the Convention Against the Taking of Hostages are among these treaties. The Bill proposes adding the International Convention for Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (2005).

Previously the Jammu and Kashmir Ghaznavi Force (JKGF) and Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) were declared as terrorist organizations.