PDP offers legal assistance to banned Jamaat, JKLF

Regional People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday offered legal assistance to Jama’at-e-Islami, a religio-political organisation, and pro-independence Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, which were banned by the Centre recently.

“We are ready to provide legal assistance to both Jamaat and Yasin Malik-led JKLF in Supreme Court and the High Court, provided they trust us,” senior PDP leader and former deputy chief minister of the state, Muzaffar Hussain Beg said while addressing party workers in northern Baramulla district.

Both JKLF and the Jamaat were declared unlawful associations by the Centre.

Earlier PDP president and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had condemned the ban on the two organisations, saying it was ‘against’ the essence of democracy which allows space to opposing political thoughts.

Notifications to ban the two organisations under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, was issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs after a high-level meeting on security chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

After the ban on the Jamaat, Mehbooba, who led a coalition government with the BJP from April 2016 to June 2018, tweeted, "Why is GoI so uncomfortable with Jamaat e Islami? Radicalised Hindu groups representing fringe elements are given carte blanche to spread misinformation & vitiate the atmosphere.”

And after the ban on the JKLF Mehbooba said it was a “detrimental step” that will turn Kashmir into an open-air prison.

Mehbooba led PDP have been again trying to play soft-separatism car to refurbish the party’s image that took a serious beating after the BJP pulled out of the PDP-BJP ruling coalition in June last year.