Srinagar: Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti Wednesday launched a scathing attack on banned Jama’at-e-Islami J&K, asking them to clarify if those coming forward and contesting Assembly elections are “their own men or the agents of agencies”.
“There is a ban on Jama’at. We too want this party in the field to take part in the democratic process. But let the government lift the ban over it. Jama’at should also clarify whether those coming forward, and contesting Assembly elections are their representatives, or that they are agents of agencies,” PDP president Mehbooba Mufti made these remarks while talking to reporters on the sidelines of a public meeting in southern Shopian.
She criticized the central government for allowing the Jama’at to play an active role in the upcoming Assembly elections in J&K.
She questioned the silence of the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the government regarding the open support being extended by the Jama’at to certain individuals.
The PDP president demanded that the government clarify whether the ban on Jama’at-e-Islami J&K is still in place, or whether it has been relaxed, pointing out the “contradiction” about the group’s involvement in the political process if such a ban still exists.
Notably several independent candidates have filed their nomination papers to contest upcoming Assembly elections in J&K, who according to them, are being backed by a group of Jama’at leaders and cadres. Many of these Jama’at members recently participated in an election rally held in Bugam area of Kulgam district where the group extended its support to several candidates contesting elections from parts of south Kashmir.
