Srinagar : In a speech at an election rally in Pulwama’s Chandgam area, former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and president of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mehbooba Mufti, criticised the government’s inconsistent actions towards Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI). She accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of using proxy candidates to contest elections under the banner of the banned JeI, while the organisation’s true leaders remain imprisoned.
“The real members of Jamaat-e-Islami are suffering. They have been jailed, their schools shut down, orchards seized, and homes locked. Yet, some candidates claim to represent the Jamaat in these elections. I do not understand this double standard,” she remarked.
The PDP leader pointed out the confusion surrounding the ban imposed on JeI. “The government has dismantled the Jamaat, much like it did with the PDP. Now, if it really wants Jamaat to participate in the democratic process, why not lift the ban? Reopen their schools, return their orchards, and stop using agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and National Investigation Agency (NIA) to threaten them,” she urged.
Mufti stressed that the current candidates claiming to be from Jamaat are not the true representatives of the organisation, alleging that they are being used as political tools by the BJP. “The real Jamaat is behind bars. The NIA and ED are relentlessly pursuing them. And yet, we see candidates claiming to be the face of Jamaat. This is not the true Jamaat-e-Islami,” she said, adding that this dissonance only serves to deepen the confusion among voters.
She also questioned the government’s sincerity in involving JeI in the democratic setup. “If New Delhi genuinely wants Jamaat-e-Islami to be part of the democratic process, then they should lift the ban on the organisation. Return their property, lift the pressure from the investigating agencies, and let them contest the elections without fear,” Mufti emphasised.
Pulwama, a politically significant district in South Kashmir, is set to vote in the first phase of the elections on September 18. Mufti’s remarks come at a time when several candidates have entered the fray claiming to represent Jamaat-e-Islami, despite the government’s ongoing ban on the organisation. The former Chief Minister’s sharp criticisms highlight the complex political dynamics in the region, where government agencies continue to monitor and act against JeI while some candidates still claim its legacy.
