SRINAGAR: Election officials in J&K rejected Wednesday the nomination papers of imprisoned cleric Sarjan Ahmad Barkati and 25 other candidates, most of whom are former members or affiliates of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami. These candidates had intended to run as independents in the first phase of the J&K assembly elections scheduled for Sept 18.
An official said out of the 280 candidates who filed nomination papers, 168 were accepted while 26 were rejected during scrutiny.The absence of explanations for these rejections has sparked controversy, particularly as these are the first assembly elections in the region in a decade.
Former CM and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti criticised the lack of transparency in the rejection process. “Sorry to hear about the rejection of the assembly nomination form of Sarjan Barkati from Zainapora. The election commissioner must make the reasons public for this decision. Democracy is a battle of ideas, and everyone should be given a chance to participate in it,” she wrote on X, along with a video of Barkati’s daughter in tears.
Social activist Aadil Nazir, who accompanied Barkati’s daughter Sugra to file the nomination papers Tuesday, announced that they plan to challenge the rejection in court.
Barkati, a prominent cleric and political figure from Zainapora in south Kashmir’s Shopian district, is also known as the “Kashmiri Pied Piper” for his separatist slogans. He has been imprisoned since Aug 2023 on charges related to antinational activities, including organising stone-throwing protests in 2016 after the death of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. His wife was also arrested in Nov 2023 in a terrorism-funding case.
The first phase covers 24 seats, including 16 in south Kashmir and eight in Jammu region.Candidates had until Aug 27 to submit their nominations, with scrutiny on Aug 28. The final date for withdrawal of candidature is Aug 30.
Kashmir’s political landscape is recording a major shift since the three-phase assembly elections were announced, with several former militants, separatists, and their relatives forming a new political group named Tahreek-e-Awam to contest the elections as independent candidates.
This marks a departure from the separatists’ previous stand of boycotting elections, indicating a move towards mainstream political engagement. The group includes former members of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami.
PDP chief Mehbooba reiterated that everyone should have the opportunity to participate in the democratic process. National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah had also welcomed the decision of “those who had declared elections haram” to join the electoral race.
An official said out of the 280 candidates who filed nomination papers, 168 were accepted while 26 were rejected during scrutiny.The absence of explanations for these rejections has sparked controversy, particularly as these are the first assembly elections in the region in a decade.
Former CM and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti criticised the lack of transparency in the rejection process. “Sorry to hear about the rejection of the assembly nomination form of Sarjan Barkati from Zainapora. The election commissioner must make the reasons public for this decision. Democracy is a battle of ideas, and everyone should be given a chance to participate in it,” she wrote on X, along with a video of Barkati’s daughter in tears.
Social activist Aadil Nazir, who accompanied Barkati’s daughter Sugra to file the nomination papers Tuesday, announced that they plan to challenge the rejection in court.
Barkati, a prominent cleric and political figure from Zainapora in south Kashmir’s Shopian district, is also known as the “Kashmiri Pied Piper” for his separatist slogans. He has been imprisoned since Aug 2023 on charges related to antinational activities, including organising stone-throwing protests in 2016 after the death of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. His wife was also arrested in Nov 2023 in a terrorism-funding case.
The first phase covers 24 seats, including 16 in south Kashmir and eight in Jammu region.Candidates had until Aug 27 to submit their nominations, with scrutiny on Aug 28. The final date for withdrawal of candidature is Aug 30.
Kashmir’s political landscape is recording a major shift since the three-phase assembly elections were announced, with several former militants, separatists, and their relatives forming a new political group named Tahreek-e-Awam to contest the elections as independent candidates.
This marks a departure from the separatists’ previous stand of boycotting elections, indicating a move towards mainstream political engagement. The group includes former members of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami.
PDP chief Mehbooba reiterated that everyone should have the opportunity to participate in the democratic process. National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah had also welcomed the decision of “those who had declared elections haram” to join the electoral race.