Afzal Guru’s brother Ajaz Ahmad Guru is set to contest in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections from the Sopore constituency of North Kashmir. Sopore is a territory that comes under the stronghold of Syed Ali Geelani, a prominent separatist leader under whose influence the voters refrained from voting for decades. This year, for a change, the constituency garnered 44% votes in the Lok Sabha elections 2024.

Who is Ajaz Ahmad Guru?

Ajaz Guru, 58, took voluntary retirement from the government job at the Animal Husbandry Department in 2014 and is currently working as a contractor. Speaking on his will over putting his fate to the test in the upcoming polls, he said, “When everyone is contesting elections, why can’t I?”

Ajaz Guru is NOT Afzal Guru?

Guru will be contesting as an independent candidate, notably, the last day for filing the nomination is September 12. He clearly stated he wouldn’t use his brother’s name to seek votes as he has a different ideology from the hanged kin who was convicted in the 2001 Parliament attack case. “My ideology is different. The people of Kashmir have been betrayed by everyone till date in the name of autonomy, Kashmiriyat and Azaadi”, said Ajaz Ahmad Guru.

Contesting to prove son innocent

Ajaz wishes to contest and fight for the youth of Kashmir, for the betterment of the people residing in the Valley and for those who have been fabricated in fake cases by the Jammu and Kashmir Police. Ajaz said that his son Shoaib, who was studying in Pune was also arrested nine months ago by the police in one of such fabricated cases. He wants to get justice for him.

Citing the shocking defeat of Omar Abdullah in the Lok Sabha elections from the Baramulla constituency where an imprisoned candidate won, Ajaz said that if Engineer Rashid’s son can campaign for his jailed father, why can’t he campaign to prove his son innocent?

Also read: 24 Candidates, 3 Strong Contenders, Why Omar Abdullah’s Honour Is Really In Voters’ Hands

Omar and Ajaz at crossroads

While Omar Abdullah seems minting votes in the name of Afzal Guru, Ajaz has sidelined himself from the views of his brother. In a recent statement, Omar mentioned Afzal Guru and said that his execution served no purpose and that if any permission from the state government had been required, he wouldn’t have granted the same. This statement to gain support from the Kashmiris stirred political controversy against Omar and senior leaders including Rajnath Singh backlashed at him.