by Sajid Raina
SRINAGAR: The former district president of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami and an independent candidate for the Bandipora pleaded with the public on Monday to give him a single opportunity to prove his ability to serve the people of his constituency.
Wearing a Global Positioning System (GPS) tracker and dressed in a Khan suit, 36-year-old Hafiz Mohammad Sikander Malik addressed a rally at Gulshan Chowk in Bandipora and said that JeI has never supported violence in J&K; rather, it has always been engaged in religious work. “As circumstances evolved, the organisation and its members were compelled to step forward to serve the people who have been suffering for years,” he said.
The tracker was installed on him earlier this year on the directions of the court in a case that is being investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) against the banned Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI).
He was released on bail on December 2, 2023. He had been booked under Public Safety Act twice and once under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act after the abrogation of Article 370.
Malik, a post-graduate in Arabic language and literature from IUST Awantipora, rejected accusations that JeI candidates are running to divide votes in J&K. He stated, “We will never collaborate with anyone, including the BJP, as our ideals do not align with theirs. We will serve the people in our way and make no false promises.”
Malik, who had addressed a gathering at the same location during the 2016 uprising, urged people across Kashmir to consider the need for a Muslim political set up to advocate for their rights. “People should think carefully before choosing a candidate and casting their votes, as this is a single chance that should not be wasted,” he said.
“A transformation arises from understanding what is right and wrong. People should recognize that political parties in Jammu and Kashmir have deceived them for the last 70 years, as we are witnessing now,” he said.
“I’m up against those with vast amounts of money, but I have only hope for peace, prosperity, and development for our constituency. I will offer not empty promises, but real development and genuine leadership. Our youth are in jails, and the education system is in poor shape. We must fight for these issues,” he added.
“In the 21st century, our politics should be genuine and based on real ideas, rather than the false promises we have been hearing for the last 70 years,” he said.
“We stand with those who will raise the Kashmir issue. I can say and feel that there is peace in J&K. Only those who have languished in jails for years, like Engineer Rashid, truly understand the wounds,” he said.
“We need to understand the difference between honest and dishonest people. Kashmiris often honour the dead and speak ill of the living. While we recognize the true value of someone after they die, we should also reflect on who is genuinely good, honest, and trustworthy while they are still alive,” he said, praising Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency Member of Parliament, Engineer Rashid.
Targeting the JKNC, he said, “These people previously welcomed us when JeI announced its participation in elections. Now, the same party is falsely accusing us of being a BJP team. We have a long-standing conflict with the National Conference, and everyone should understand this,” he said.
