Kulgam, Feb 23: Members of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) on Sunday held a political workers’ convention in Kulgam under the newly formed banner of “Justice and Development Front”. The front’s leadership said it would support the ruling National Conference (NC) in all efforts that benefit the people.
Speaking at the convention, Shameem Ahmad Thoker, president of the Justice and Development Front, expressed hope that the new front would serve as an extension of Jamaat-e-Islami and carry forward its ideological and political objectives.
“Despite the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami, we actively participated in the assembly elections and will continue to do so in the future. We will take part in all elections while maintaining the sympathy and support of Jamaat-e-Islami’s people,” he said.
Thoker further added that although they are not in the government, they would support the ruling NC and Omar Abdullah in initiatives that serve the public interest.
The front plans to launch a district-wide political campaign, beginning from the village, block, and district levels. “Our focus is on grassroots engagement. Our workers are not just supporters but active participants who will work diligently to achieve our objectives. We aim to work on society, character building, morality, and collective progress,” Thoker added.
Regarding the seizure of books linked to Jamaat-e-Islami, the front chief expressed concerns, saying: “There was no official order for their seizure. If books published in India under an ISBN number are not banned elsewhere, why should they be banned in Kashmir? We respect law enforcement agencies, but enforcement should be based on official orders.”
Sayar Ahmad Reshi, General Secretary of the Justice and Development Front, said their mission is to bring positive social change while addressing pressing issues such as drug abuse. “We are committed to tackling the rising drug menace in Kashmir. We will work at the grassroots level, counselling affected youth and engaging with parents to address this crisis,” he said.
Reshi said the new front is not about personal gains or empty slogans but about public welfare and real progress. “While the Kulgam convention was a general workers’ gathering, the official launch of the Justice and Development Front will take place in Srinagar soon,” he said.
