Jammu and Kashmir: Engineer Rashid’s AIP forges alliance with former members of Jamaat-e-Islami

Jammu and Kashmir MP Abdul Rashid Sheikh-led Awami Ittehad Party on Sunday announced a pre-poll alliance with former leaders of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir.

In 2019, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs declared the Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir an “unlawful association” for a period of five years for activities “prejudicial to internal security and public order”.

In February, the ministry extended the ban for five years.

However, several prominent members of the Jamaat-e-Islami are contesting the upcoming Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir as independent candidates.

Quoting a statement by the Awami Ittehad Party, The Hindu reported on Sunday that a delegation of the party led by its chief spokesperson Inam Un Nabi met with a delegation of the Jamaat-e-Islami led by Ghulam Qadir Wani.

“Following comprehensive deliberations, it was agreed that AIP would support JEI-backed candidates in Kulgam and Pulwama,” the newspaper quoted a spokesperson from the Awami Ittehad Party as saying. “Similarly, JEI will throw its support behind AIP candidates across Kashmir.”

In areas where both Awami Ittehad Party and Jamaat-e-Islami have fielded candidates, the alliance has agreed to a “friendly contest”.

“The goal is to secure a resounding victory for AIP and JEI candidates, ensuring that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have strong representatives who can articulate their sentiments and aspirations,” said the spokesperson.

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