Many separatist leaders are seen switching to mainstream politics in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections 2024. Separatist leader and Hurriyat member Syed Salim Gilani joined the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Sunday. Gilani joined this political party in the presence of party president Mehbooba Mufti at the PDP office. After this he said, ‘PDP is a party that talks about democratic rights, human rights and political rights of the people. It talks about a political solution to the Kashmir problem. So I felt that this is the right party to join. ‘ He said that the Kashmir issue can be resolved only politically. There can be no solution with a gun. This is the only way to save lives being lost in violence.
Syed Salim Gilani has been a close associate of jailed separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah. He was a member of the general council of the Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. Welcoming Gilani, Mufti said it was a good thing that the former separatist leader wanted a peaceful solution to the Kashmir problem. He said, “We had requested Gilani to contest the election on a PDP ticket, but he expressed his inability to do so. He said someone else should get a chance to contest the election.”
‘Earlier separatists used to boycott’
National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah has also welcomed this. Omar said that the decision of separatist leaders to join mainstream parties and contest elections in Jammu and Kashmir is a sign of ideological change. He said, ‘Earlier, whenever elections were held, separatists used to raise the issue of boycott. Today they are contesting elections. This shows that ideological change has taken place.’ Omar Abdullah was asked whether the joining of separatist leader Syed Salim Gilani in PDP is proof of the support of separatists to PDP in the 2002 elections? On this he said that if you want to create a rift by making me answer this question, then I will not answer it.
These former separatist leaders filed nomination
2 former members of Jamaat-e-Islami have filed nominations from South Kashmir for the first phase of elections. Former Jamaat leader Talat Majeed filed his nomination papers from Pulwama assembly constituency for the first phase. Another former Jamaat leader Sayyar Ahmed Reshi filed his nomination from Kulgam assembly constituency in South Kashmir. Similarly, former Jamaat member Nazir Ahmed is going to contest as an independent candidate from Devsar constituency. Experts believe that Engineer Rashid won the Lok Sabha elections, which has boosted the morale of other separatist leaders to contest the elections. Rashid’s Awami Ittehad Party has also released its first list of 9 candidates for this assembly election.
Separatist Sarjan Barkati’s nomination papers rejected
It is noteworthy that during the scrutiny of nomination papers for the first phase of assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, nomination papers of 35 candidates including jailed separatist Sarjan Barkati were rejected, leaving 244 candidates in the fray. The 35 candidates whose nomination papers have been rejected include jailed separatist activist Sarjan Ahmed Wagay alias Sarjan Barkati. Barkati’s daughter Sugra had filed Barkati’s nomination as an independent candidate from Zainapora constituency in Shopian district. Barkati came into the limelight during the unrest after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in the summer of 2016.
accused of promoting terrorist activities
Barkati was first arrested 8 years ago and a case was registered against him under the Public Safety Act. Last year, Barkati was arrested again and charged under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). According to the chargesheet filed against Barkati in the court this year, he is an active supporter of the terrorist-separatist nexus. Barkati hatched a criminal conspiracy with others, including his relatives, to promote terrorist, separatist ideologies and activities through his provocative speeches. Through such audio-video provocative speeches, he incited the youth to join terrorist organizations. Apart from Barkati, other candidates whose nomination papers have been rejected include 13 independent candidates and several candidates from various political parties.
(With agency input)
