KL Report
SRINAGAR
Two days after Member of Legislative Assembly (elect) Engineer Abdul Rasheed addressed people from the dais of Jama’at-e-Islami (JeI) during an ‘interactive congregation session’ in winter capital of the State, the party on Tuesday said inviting the ‘pro-India politician’ was a ‘mistake’ and assured strict action after conducting probe against those who invited him.
Rasheed, who also heads Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) addressed people at Masjid Ibrahim in Rajindra Bazar area of Jammu City on Sunday, wherein he called for the resolution of ‘burning issues’ of Kashmir and Palestine.
“Yes, we accept that inviting a pro-Indian politician was a mistake,” the JeI spokesman, Advocate Zahid Ali Lone, told a local news-gatherer over phone. He said the group would hold inquiry followed by ‘strict action’ against those who invited Rasheed. “As of now, we don’t know who actually invited Rasheed. But, the enquiry would figure out and we assure that no one would be spared and action would be taken according to the constitution of Jama’at,” he said.
The Jama’at spokesman said though the non-Muslim intellectuals and academicians are invited during interactive congregation sessions, ‘but there is no tradition of inviting pro-India politicians and those who don’t accept the realities of Kashmir issue’. In reply to a question, Lone said: “The Lawmaker was invited without the permission of central authority of Jama’at. It is not permissible to allow such persons.”
Lone further said that ‘the unfortunate incident’ that occurred at Jammu ‘has not only shaken the inner circles of Jama’at but also its sympathizers’. “A negative effect has prevailed. People think Jama’at has retracted from its stand on Islam and ‘Azadi’. There is no question of sell out. But, we assure all the people including pro-freedom groups and our supporters and sympathizers that we haven’t changed our stance when it comes to Kashmir issue or Islam,” he said.
Lone reiterated party’s stand over Kashmir and said until the long-pending issue is not solved according to United Nations Resolutions, the Jama’at would continue to ‘struggle shoulder-to-shoulder with other pro-freedom parties and groups’.