It was NC in 1987 who made elections haram for JeI: Mehbooba

People’s Democratic Party President Mehbooba Mufti on Friday said that it was the National Conference that made elections “haram” for Jamaat-e-Islami.

Speaking to reporters here at Srinagar, Mehbooba said that in 1987, when Jamaat-e-Islami and other groups tried to participate in the elections, National Conference opposed it because they didn’t want a third force to emerge.

She said that first, elections were haram for them, now they are halal. But completely, it is their call.

She further said that the National Conference started this system of “halal and haram” with elections. “In 1947, when late Sheikh Abdullah first became the Chief Administrative Officer of J&K and later joined with India, elections were halal. When he became the Chief Minister, elections were halal. But when he was removed from the position, elections became haram for 22 years,” she added.

Mehbooba also said that during those 22 years, the National Conference continuously opposed the election process.

“They kept talking about ‘Plebiscite,’ aiming to liberate Jammu and Kashmir or go with Pakistan, declaring elections as haram,” she said.

She also said that in 1975, when Sheikh Abdullah returned to power, elections suddenly became halal again.

Mehbooba said that this system of labeling elections as halal or haram has continued, leading to a long-term impact on the political process in the J&K. “It is sad to see this narrative being used even today”, she added.

She also called on the government to lift the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami and return their confiscated assets. “If Jamaat-e-Islami wants to fight elections, it is a battle of democratic thoughts, and anyone should be allowed to participate. Their institutions and assets should be de-frozen and returned,” she said.

“It is unfortunate that the National Conference calls elections halal when they win and haram when they lose. This inconsistency is their call”, she added

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