Ghulam Qadir Lone, a prominent member of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami, has announced the group’s intention to participate in the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections, despite the ban that prevents them from formally taking part. Speaking to NDTV on September 2, Ghulam Qadir Lone, a central committee member and former general secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami, explained that their decision to contest the elections is aimed at “raising their voices” and challenging the ban imposed by the Union home ministry. The organization, which has been barred from participating in elections since 1987, is seeking to overturn the restrictions through this electoral challenge.
Ghulam Qadir Lone emphasized that Jamaat-e-Islami has always adhered to the laws of the Indian Constitution and expressed surprise at the continued ban in a democratic nation. He stated, “We have not done anything which is against the law and always carried out our activities within the framework of an Indian constitution. So when the Centre decided to impose a ban on us, we were surprised as to how in a democratic nation this happened.” The organization had previously applied to the Election Commission of India to register under the name Jammu Kashmir Justice and Development Front but decided to run as Independents after their ban was ratified.
Four former Jamaat leaders are contesting in the assembly elections taking place for the first time in a decade. The candidates are standing for seats in Pulwama, Kulgam, Devsar, and Zanipura. Ghulam Qadir Lone noted that financial constraints limited their ability to field more candidates and emphasized that their chosen candidates have grassroots support and share their ideological beliefs.
In response to claims from other political parties that Jamaat-e-Islami is acting as a “proxy” for the BJP, Ghulam Qadir Lone refuted these accusations, asserting that the group operates independently and focuses on its agenda. He also criticized the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its leader, Mehbooba Mufti, for not providing support earlier and dismissed allegations from Omar Abdullah-led National Conference regarding Jamaat-e-Islami’s role in violence in the Valley.
Ghulam Qadir Lone also highlighted the group’s focus on addressing unemployment and drug issues, which he believes are critical concerns for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir. The assembly elections will be held in three phases from September 18 to October 1, with the results to be counted on October 4. The elections are seen as a significant event in the region’s political landscape, especially following the abrogation of Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
