‘Pressured, Hobson’s choice’: Mirwaiz drops Hurriyat chairman tag on X

Srinagar: Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday said he was being pressured by authorities to make changes to his X handle and remove the tag of Hurriyat chairman on this social media site, failing which it would be taken down.

In a statement, Mirwaiz said the pressure stemmed from the ban on all constituents of the Hurriyat Conference, including the Awami Action Committee, which he heads, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, making Hurriyat a banned organisation.

He said that at a time when public space and avenues of communication are severely restricted, the social media platform remains among the few means available to him to reach out to people and share his views on issues concerning them and the outside world.

“Under such circumstances, it is a Hobson’s choice I was left to make,” he said.