NEWS KASHMIR EXCLUSIVE
Recently in a big development, the Central Government banned the popular organization Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir for a period of five years citing reasons that the outfit was in “close touch” with militant outfits. Pertinently, The Jamaat-e-Islami was banned under anti-terror laws with the Centre aiming at preventing any “escalation of secessionist movement” in the state.
The Ministry of Home Affairs issued the banning order a few days after the Jammu and Kashmir Police arrested around 100 people, including the Jamaat-e-Islami chief, and claimed that the outfit was involved in activities intended at disrupting India’s integrity.
Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir is a socio-political and religious organisation that was founded in 1945 as a chapter of the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind during the Independence movement.
Jamaat-e-Islami was separated from its parent organisation in 1953 over differences in political ideology.
From political parties to masses all sections of the society in the state are aghast over the ban. Researcher and writer Mushtaq ul Haq Sikander on social media wrote :”
We all need to stand against the unjust ban on Jamaat e Islami Kashmir (JeIK). JeIK since last two decades has assumed the role of socio religious and educational organization instead of being a political one. The victimisation of its leaders, cadres, educational network and properties needs to be resisted by one and all. The centre today has declared JeIK as illegal, tomorrow it will be hurriyat, then National Conference, then PDP, and in the end only Hindutva led BJP will be allowed to survive and be imposed on us. The career and economic prospects of hundreds of thousands students, teachers and families is at stake, as schools and personal properties of jamaat cadres is being attached too. This move is sheer condemnable.”
The ground pulse is quite angry over the ban . Writer Showkat Dar , while talking to The News Kashmir stated :
“The Mantra of Proscribing of Jamaat-e-Islamia in Jammu and Kashmir has led to cessation of various Philanthropic activities in the state, Jamaat-e-Islami is a socio-religious political organisation active in Jammu and Kashmir. The Kashmir branch broke away from Jamaat-e-Islami Hind and was founded in 1953. As a matter of fact, this is the third time in its history that Jamaat-e-Islami has beenbanned. In 1990, after militancy broke spread, the organisation was banned for the second time for allegedly encouraging unlawful activities.
It has been part of the electoral process in the state in1971, 1975, 1977, 1983 and 1987. It is only after mass rigging of elections in 1989 that Jamaat abandoned the electoral process.
All here acknowledges the gross root network of social service support system provided by Jamaat-e-Islami, J&K for the victims of conflict, and livelihood to orphans and widows in the state. It offers education through its vast network of schools having over 1, 00, 000 enrolled students. Jamaat has done a remarkable job after 2005 earth quake and 2014 Kashmir floods, which broke humanitarian crisis in the region.”
Clearly the ground sentiment is expressing anger against the ban imposed on Jamaat e Islami.
