People's Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti has announced that if her party is voted to power she'll get the ban on Jamat-e-Islami revoked

Srinagar: Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, People's Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday said that if voted to power her party will revoke the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami in Kashmir. On February 28, Centre had banned the Jamat-e-Islami (JeI) for five years under anti-terror law for maintaining close touch with terror outfits and promoting secessionist movement" in the state.

Though the Election Commission is yet to announce dates for the Assembly elections in the state, PDP chief is contesting the Lok Sabha polls from the volatile Anantnag parliamentary constituency in Kashmir. 

Apart from PDP chief, another party leader Muzaffar Hussain Baig has announced support to the banned organisation, saying that if the outfit needs any help, he's ready to fight their revocation case in the Supreme Court. Notably, it's not only the PDP, but the National Conference has also announced support to the outfit, demanding that the ban on the outfit be revoked with immediate effect.

Security agencies have cited the use of schools by Jamaat-e-Islami to spread anti-India sentiment and brainwash young Kashmiri children. It's been established that JeI has links with Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI. Reports suggest that JeI was getting weapons and logistics from ISI to train the Kashmiri youth to join 'Jihad'.

When the Centre had announced the ban, Mufti had said that her party "will protest in every nook and corner of the Kashmir valley until the Centre lifts the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami and release its member.”

Centre decision has come in line considering the ongoing trend of locals taking up the arms as against the earlier trend when Pakistan based terrorists infiltrated into Kashmir and only a few locals joined their ranks. 

It's been alleged that the banned group is a political front of the banned terror group Hizbul Mujahideen, though the outfit has never acknowledged the charge and refuted it out rightly.