In the fray again after the 1987 elections, albeit with its leaders contesting the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections independently, the banned Jamaat-e-Islami J&K (JeI) on Sunday organised a massive rally in the Bugam area of Kulgam district of south Kashmir.
The candidates, while addressing the rally, said they would talk about Kashmir, Kashmiris, and political prisoners if voted to power.
Thousands of people showed up at the first-ever rally organised by the currently banned Jamaat-e-Islami.
The participation of the Jamaat in mainstream politics is another change in J&K’s political scenario.
The JeI is contesting elections after a gap of over three decades.
The group stayed away from politics and made it a point to boycott all elections.
The change of heart was evident after people’s massive participation in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, which saw a record 58 per cent turnout.
The ban on Jamaat was extended by five years by the MHA in February 2024, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) 1967 for another five years.
JeI was first declared an “unlawful association” on February 28, 2019, by the MHA.
JeI leader contesting from Kulgam for the Assembly elections, Sayar Ahmad Reshi, said, “We are here to say that the void created by the regional political parties needs to be filled. The sea of people is our strength. Fingers will be raised against us and we will be criticised as well, but this is reality."
Similarly, another candidate, Aijaz Mir, said if elected, “We will not promote corruption. We will work transparently. We will talk about Kashmir and Kashmiris.
We will represent the aspirations of the people in the Assembly.
The Bugam area, where Jamaat has significant influence, used to boycott polls. However, the massive participation of the people in today’s rally has made
political parties nervous and also raised eyebrows both in Kashmir and New Delhi.
It is pertinent to mention that the JeI has had significant influence in south Kashmir, and it is quite possible that if they fight with full strength, they can turn the tables on rivals People’s Democratic Party and the National candidates.
Jamaat candidates are fighting as independents since Jamaat has been declared an unlawful association under UAPA.
JeI’s panel head, Ghulam Qadir Wani, said they had been ignored by and large in previous years. “Now institutions have approached us and people have also talked to us, which ultimately paved the way for us to join the poll fray,” he said.
It may be noteworthy to mention here that in 1987 JeI contested elections for the first time under the banner of the Muslim United Front (MUF).
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