Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti on Friday said it was the National Conference which had made elections haram for Jamaat-e-Islami. Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Mehbooba said in 1987, when Jamaat-e-Islami and other groups tried to participate in elections, the National Conference opposed it as they did not want a third force to emerge. She said earlier elections were haram for them, now it has become halal. But entirely, it is their decision.
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The former CM said that if Jamaat-e-Islami wants to contest elections then it is a good thing. The government should lift the ban, all their institutions, properties which you have frozen, seized, should be de-frozen, they should be returned. He said that elections become halal for National Conference when they get power and when they lose power then elections become haram for them. He further said that National Conference started this system of “halal and haram” with elections.
Mehbooba said that in 1947, when late Sheikh Abdullah first became the chief administrative officer of Jammu and Kashmir and later joined India, elections were halal. When he became the Chief Minister, elections were halal. But when he was removed from the post, elections became haram for 22 years. Mehbooba also said that during those 22 years, the National Conference constantly opposed the election process. She also said that in 1975, when Sheikh Abdullah returned to power, elections suddenly became halal again.
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Mehbooba said this system of calling elections halal or haram continues, which is having a long-term impact on the political process in Jammu and Kashmir. “It is sad to see that this narrative is being used even today,” she said. She also called on the government to lift the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami and return their confiscated property. “If Jamaat-e-Islami wants to contest elections, it is a battle for democratic ideas and anyone should be allowed to participate in it. Their institutions and properties should be de-frozen and returned,” she said.
