Banned J&K Outfit In Talks With Centre Over Comeback In Assembly Polls Ahead Of Amit Shah's Srinagar Visit

Jamaat-e-Islami Kashmir (Jel) was banned in 2019 as an "unlawful association" under the anti-terror law UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act) for a period of five years.

Jamaat-e-Islami Kashmir (Jel) was banned in 2019 as an "unlawful association" under the anti-terror law UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act).

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Jamaat-e-Islami Kashmir (Jel), which was banned in 2019 as an "unlawful association", under the anti-terror law UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act), is in talks with the Centre after expressing interest in contesting the Assmebly polls, if the ban on the Islamist organisation is lifted from it in the union territory.

The recent development comes as Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to visit Srinagar on Thursday evening.

Jel was banned following the abrogation of Article 370, as the outfit was "found continuing its activities against the security, integrity and sovereignty of the nation".

Declaring the outfit as unlawful for a period of five years in 2019, the Centre said in a statement: "Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu Kashmir is continuing to be involved in fomenting terrorism and anti-India propaganda for fueling secessionism in Jammu and Kashmir, which is prejudicial to the sovereignty, security and integrity of India."

The announcement to contest the assembly polls, which are slated to be held in September, was made by the Jel on Wednesday, TOI reported.

"JeI has always believed in democratic process," said Ghulam Qadir Wani, JeI's panel head, who casted his vote in Srinagar on Monday.

Talking about the poll agenda, Wani said: "Socio-religious reforms and war on drugs would be our poll agenda."

Amid Shah's Srinagar visit today, remours are rife that the Jamaat delegation might meet the Home Minister to undertake poll talks.

Wani, a senior JeI leader, stated that the party wants to move on participating in elections if the Centre lifts the ban. He also added that this decision has been backed by Jamaat's Majlis-e-Shoora, the highest decision making body of the Islamist group, NDTV reported.

"We have the backing of Majlis-e-Shoora. The Shoora has taken a decision. Jamaat is an ideology and we want to restore the Jamaat," Wani said.

"We want the ban on Jamaat to be lifted and for that, we are engaged in talks with the Centre," he added.

Earlier, Amit Shah had stated that the JeI and Hurriyat Conference, had voted during the fourth phase in Srinagar, despite expressing their disbelief in the Constitution earlier.

After the banned group expressed its readiness to contest polls, the former J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah also said that the ban on JeI must be lifted. He also appealed 

The National Conference leader has appealed to Shah to lift the ban, a day before his Srinagar visit.

Abdullah further said that the Islamist group should contest polls directly instead of discreetly assisting other parties in polls, which he said they have been doing in previous elections.

JeI has contested assembly polls in 1972 and continued to do so till 1987. However, it boycotted the poll process after that, alleging threats and rigging.