Srinagar: In a significant political development, Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) on Monday said that it has no electoral alliance with anyone anywhere, saying that its pact with AIP remains confined to south Kashmir only and has nothing to do with its strategies elsewhere.
Former JeI president Ghulam Qadir Wani while speaking to media, as per the news agency KNO, announced support to Haji Manzoor Ahmed Kaloo, an independent candidate and former Hurriyat leader, who is contesting the upcoming assembly elections from Sopore.
Wani said that the organisation has historically distanced itself from elections due to instances of rigging in the past.
“The rigging that took place in the past drove many towards extremism. Now, Jamaat is determined to participate in, and support democratic institutions to uphold trust in democracy,” Wani said, citing the example of Mohammed Yousef Shah, a key figure in Kashmir’s insurgency, who later became Syed Salahuddin and headed Hizbul Mujahideen.
Wani clarified that Jamaat is determined to fight its battle democratically, pushing against the challenges it faces, including ban on the organisation.
Wani denied there was any broader electoral alliance beyond the south Kashmir remains.
It’s noteworthy that earlier JeI and AIP had joined hands, in what they called a “strategic alliance to advocate the cause of the people” of Jammu and Kashmir. “AIP will back JeI candidates in Kulgam and Pulwama, while JeI will support AIP candidates across Kashmir,” AIP’s chief spokesperson Inam ub Nabi had said. (KNO)
