Mulling to contest assembly polls after nearly 38 years if ban is revoked
Srinagar, May 15: The political landscape of Jammu & Kashmir has witnessed yet another reversing situation as the banned Jamaat-e-Islami here has once again made its mind to switch to mainstream politics and stated that if the ban is revoked, they will contest the upcoming assembly elections in the Union Territory.
The organization, formed in 1953, contested the elections in the year 1987, but later kept itself away from the democratic exercises.
Addressing the media persons here, Ghulam Qadir Wani of Gussu, Pulwama, panel head of JeI, announced the decision publically and stated that the members of the organization even exercised their franchise in the recent Lok Sabha polls for Srinagar Parliamentary Constituency.
Wani himself was seen in the line where a large number of people casted their ballots for their candidates in Pulwama.
“We never issued a call for a poll boycott as the organization always believed in democratic process. We want to contest the upcoming assembly elections where we will be fielding our candidates,” he said, adding that the decision has been taken by the Majlise-Shora, but can be ensured only if the ban imposed on the organization is revoked.
“There are multiple issues that can be raised by JeI during the elections. We will be focussing on drug abuse and other issues in case we are allowed to conduct our activities,” he said.
Meanwhile, the political leaders in J&K here have welcomed the decision taken by the Jamaat-e-Islami. National Conference (NC) Omar Abdullah has also stated the decision of JeI.
