THE JAMAAT-E-ISLAMI, extra exactly a faction of it, contested the Jammu and Kashmir Meeting elections this time amidst a lot hype because it was the primary time in over three many years that the socio-political organisation had joined the ballot fray. Nonetheless banned beneath the Illegal Actions Prevention Act (UAPA), slapped in opposition to it in February 2019, the Jamaat fielded 9 candidates who contested as Independents other than backing a Peoples Democratic Social gathering (PDP) insurgent.
The Jamaat panel contesting the polls was additionally in negotiations with New Delhi for lifting the ban on the organisation, with the overall impression being that the 2 issues had been tied. This “affiliation” with the BJP is believed to have been the foremost cause behind the Jamaat’s poor efficiency within the elections. Barring its Kulgam candidate Sayar Ahamd Reshi, who gave a stiff combat to CPI(M) chief M Y Tarigami, the opposite eight Jamaat-backed nominees ended up forfeiting their safety deposits.
In an interview with The Indian Categorical, the chief spokesperson of the panel and chief election in-charge, Shameem Ahmad Thoker, talks in regards to the outcomes and what follows. Excerpts:
* How do you see the efficiency of the Jamaat-backed candidates within the elections?
I’m it positively as a result of we had no time to arrange for these elections. We convened our Shura (Govt Council) assembly on August 24, we filed nomination papers on twenty seventh, and we began campaigning on thirtieth after we received the election symbols. We may hardly marketing campaign for 15 days and we received greater than 25,000 votes (in Kulgam). In Zainpora, we received over 15,000 votes, and in Devsar, over 5,000 votes. I might name it an achievement.
* However eight of the Jamaat candidates didn’t even save their safety deposits. How do you clarify that given the hype across the Jamaat’s participation?
Our cadre was scattered, they had been in confusion and worry. Due to that we couldn’t persuade them they usually didn’t come out to marketing campaign for our candidates. The outcome was that we couldn’t convert the floating voters. We couldn’t construct their confidence in simply 14 days. They didn’t come out to marketing campaign and that precipitated a dip in our efficiency. The very fact is that our cadre did vote however they weren’t able to inspire our sympathisers and their households.
* Should you couldn’t persuade your individual cadre, how may you’ve satisfied the individuals?
We had little time… We made makes an attempt to assemble our (former) members at one place. In Pulwama, we didn’t discover a place for this and determined to take a seat in a mosque. Simply then the CID (the J-Ok Police’s intelligence wing) individuals got here calling, our members had been scared, there was chaos they usually feared they might be arrested. After that incident, no one agreed to supply their home for our conferences. Since we couldn’t convene our cadres, there was confusion.
Our adversaries, who had been in opposition to our participation within the elections, propagated their very own theories. They stated it (the choice to contest) was not the choice of the Jamaat’s Shura (the Govt Council that existed earlier than the UAPA ban) however of some people.
* The Shura and the panel… why is there such confusion?
Sure, it’s a indisputable fact that the choice to take part within the elections was taken by the panel. However it had the help of the Shura that existed earlier than the ban of the Jamaat. At an occasion in Shopian for Ajaz Mir (the Jamaat-backed candidate from Zainapora), we received Shehazada Aurangzeb, a Shura member revered throughout Kashmir as a result of he’s the son of Hakim (Ghulam Nabi) sahib (one of many founders of the Jamaat in Kashmir) and a fantastic scholar. He requested the individuals to vote for Ajaz Ahmad Mir. He additionally issued a video assertion. In our election rallies, our Shura members had been there, our district and tehsil management was there, our members had been there.
The individuals you’re speaking about, who elevate these points (in regards to the panel taking a unilateral name), they don’t have any stature within the Jamaat.
* However Shehzada Aurangzeb’s brother Gazi Moin-ul-Islam, a prime Jamaat chief who was just lately launched from jail, didn’t come ahead to help you.
Gazi sahib didn’t get time. When our complete panel went to fulfill him to congratulate him on his launch, he was weeping as a result of his sister had died and he had not been knowledgeable, his uncle had died, his spouse’s cousin had died, and he didn’t know. Within the five-six days (earlier than the polls), he was busy mourning. For a lot of days he was along with his nephews and nieces, whose mom had handed away. After we went to him, he advised us that we shouldn’t fear in regards to the people who find themselves criticising the choice taken by the Jamaat. He stated we ought to be nervous in regards to the mental class and take them alongside.
* You say that every one the management, the Shura, the district and tehsil degree, was with you. Then why did you get solely 406 votes in even a stronghold like Sopore?
The one cause for our poor efficiency in Sopore was that the candidate was not accepted by the individuals… He himself got here ahead to contest and we thought he’s a person of integrity and has had earlier affiliation with the Jamaat… However once we fielded him… the individuals didn’t settle for him.
Additionally it is true that we don’t have an enormous cadre within the North. I went to North Kashmir myself and our cadre there was scared. That type of worry, I’ve not seen in Jamaat cadre at some other place. They didn’t even come ahead to fulfill us. Funds had been one other concern.
* What could be the influence of the election outcomes on the Jamaat’s future?
Folks see this negatively, however I’m taking it positively as a result of, after 37 years, the Jamaat is again in democratic politics. We gave a stiff combat (regardless of) being within the area for simply 14-15 days. I see an open and nice environment for the Jamaat. It’s true that we didn’t win or we received only a few votes at some locations. We’re contemplating this, we are going to sit and talk about and devise a brand new coverage and do nicely sooner or later.
* Will there be any assessment of the choice to contest polls?
See, the Jamaat did a assessment of its earlier choice (taken in 1990), and I don’t see any scope for one more assessment. We wish to come again to the Jamaat of the pre-1990 period, and there’s no going again on that. We wish to be that socio-politico-religious get together, a peaceable get together that can work for the individuals and in politics. We’ll stand by that.