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Srinagar: In another significant development in the ongoing political landscape of the Kashmir Valley, Talat Majid, a prominent leader of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami, along with his supporters, formally joined the Apni Party at the party’s headquarters on a recent Thursday. This move is seen as a strategic shift by Majid, as he aims to adopt a realistic approach and promote an alternative path for the region, emphasizing a focus on development and the well-being of Kashmiri youth.
Talat Majid, who hails from the Pulwama district in South Kashmir, had been a member of the Jamaat-e-Islami before it was banned in 2019 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Majid made it clear that his decision to join the mainstream political party was not influenced by external pressure. In fact, he expressed his longstanding advocacy for this change, dating back to 2014 when he had hoped to bring about transformation from within the Jamaat-e-Islami but faced limitations in doing so, as per reports.
During a press interaction after joining the Apni Party, Majid stated, “I am not under any pressure to join the mainstream. I have been advocating this change since 2014. I wanted to bring this change from the platform of Jamaat-e-Islami. Since I did not get a chance there, I decided to look for other options.”
Apni Party founder Altaf Bukhari, welcoming Majid and his supporters into the party, emphasized that the Apni Party welcomed anyone who denounced terrorism and drugs, believed in the Indian constitution, and was committed to the development of Jammu and Kashmir. Bukhari reiterated his party’s commitment to expand its membership, stating, “We will continue our efforts till every person in Jammu and Kashmir joins the Apni Party.”
This development follows a trend of former separatist leaders choosing to join mainstream political parties in Kashmir. In September of the same year, Syed Muzaffar Rizvi, a former general secretary of Itihadul Muslimeen—a Shia separatist outfit that was part of the Hurriyat Conference amalgam—also joined the Apni Party. Bukhari appointed Rizvi as the vice-president of the Apni Party for the Kashmir region.
Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir was a key component of the separatist conglomerate Hurriyat Conference until 2003. While it claimed to be a socio-religious group, it was believed to be the ideological fountainhead of the banned terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen.
Majid, in his statement, expressed a strong stance against terrorism and its detrimental impact on the Kashmiri populace. He emphasized the need for a realistic approach and a focus on the future of Kashmiri youth. “It will be my agenda… I will try to save the youth. It is my wish that no one should die in the name of armed struggle. It is the ordinary Kashmiri who dies, irrespective of which side fires the bullet,” he said. Majid stressed the importance of considering the welfare of ordinary people and the adverse consequences of armed conflict on the youth.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
