Is it a victory of Indian democracy that former militants who earlier took up arms and got engaged in violence against the Indian state, have decided to contest the Jammu-Kashmir Election 2024 in an attempt to be a part of the same state? Is it an outcome of the abrogation of Article 370 and the abolition of the special status of the state? Has militancy come to an end in the state of Jammu and Kashmir or are they waiting for the opportune moment to strike?

Rashid Engineer’s Victory Inspires Former Militants

These questions were raised after some militants expressed their desire to contest the state assembly polls. After the unexpected electoral success of Abdul Rashid Sheikh alias Rashid Engineer, militants toyed with the idea of contesting elections instead of boycotting it. Rashid shocked everyone by defeating former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and People’s Conference leader Sajjad Gani Lone in this year’s Lok Sabha Elections.

Surrendered Militants Form Tahreek-E-Awam

Encouraged by the success of Rashid, some militants formed a political party called Tahreek-e-Awam to fight the Jammu-Kashmir Assembly Election 2024. Some of the key members of the outfit include Ajaz Ahmed Guru, a brother of Afzal Guru, who was awarded a death sentence for his role in the attack on the Indian Parliament in 2001.

‘Pied Piper of Kashmir’ In Election Frey

Sarjan Barkati is another member of the group.  He is languishing in jail for alleged anti-national activities. Barkati organised and led the stone-throwing incidents after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in 2016. Known as the ‘Pied Piper of Kashmir’ for coining and chanting slogans during anti-India demonstrations, he was arrested in August 2023, his wife was nabbed in November for anti-national activities.

Sarjan Barkati’s Nomination Rejected

The Election Commission officials have rejected the nomination papers of Barkati and 25 other candidates. Criticising the Election Commission officials for alleged lack of transparency while rejecting the nominations, former Jammu-Kashmir Chief Minister and PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti took to X. She wrote in a post on the social media platform, “Democracy is a battle of ideas, and everyone should be given a chance to participate in it.”

Rashid’s outfit Awami Ittehad Party has announced more than a dozen of its candidates for the first phase of polling to be held on September 18, though the party has not been recognised yet. AIP may form a coalition with the Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party is evident by the fact that its leader Altaf Bukhari has contacted Rashid Engineer’s brother Sheikh Khurshid and sons Abrar and Ansar.

Mehbooba Mufti Bats For Ex-Militants

Mehbooba Mufti reiterated that everyone should have the opportunity to participate in the democratic process. National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah has welcomed the decision of “those who had declared elections haram” to join the electoral race.

BJP Slams PDP, NC

The BJP has adopted an ambivalent approach on this issue, creating confusion. Its Jammu-Kashmir in-charge Ram Madhav has welcomed the entry of former members of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) into the election process, he said there is space for everyone in a democracy and his party welcomes everyone who wants to come forward to contest elections through democracy. However, he warned that no one should contest the polls using the support of terrorists and ex-militants.

On the other hand, Ram Madhav slammed the PDP and the National Conference for taking the help of the surrendered militants.  He claimed to have information that ex-militants are openly campaigning for the candidates of the NC and PDP. Referring to the PDP and the NC, the leader of the saffron party said the people will have to defeat the parties who want to take the state back to its bad days and support new leadership that wants peace and progress.

Hitting back at the BJP, Mehbooba Mufti pointed out that most of the cadre of the Hindutva party are former militants.

So, what next? Will the militants take oath in the name of the Indian Constitution? Will they shun violence forever and raise their voices and demands for the people of Jammu and Kashmir within the framework of the Constitution? Or will some of them use the elections to find a place within the Indian state so that they can hit it hard at the opportune moment? It is too early to have a conclusion at present.