Why a ‘Jamaat-backed’ outfit in Kashmir Valley unravelled within months, faces uncertainty

In recent times, three former chiefs of the Jamaat-e-Islami have distanced themselves from the JDF, claiming that the front did not have the Jamaat’s backing. They also said the panel formed to “talk to the Centre for revocation of the ban” has lost relevance as it failed to do the job “assigned to it”.

“The Jamaat is not associated with any front. The panel that was tasked to negotiate with the government (for lifting the ban on the Jamaat) has failed and does not exist now,” Bhat said in a video statement.
Bhat also accused the panel members of “misusing” his pictures to claim his support. “They (panel members) would come to my house and I would welcome them because the Prophet directs us to do so. They would click pictures and subsequently misuse them while passing them off as my support for them. This is wrong and unfortunate,” Bhat said, urging ex-Jamaat members to “stay away” from the JDF.

Even as questions linger over the future of the PAC, Bhat’s statement is particularly significant as the JDF boasted of his support and guidance. The JDF panel even addressed its first press conference from Bhat’s home in Srinagar.

Bhat, 85, had served as the chief of the Jamaat-e-Islami for four terms and was seen as a moderate. As chief, he distanced the organisation from militancy leading to a vertical split and eventually the formation of the Threek-e-Hurriyat, led by separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

Apart from Bhat, another former chief, Mohammad Abdullah Wani, also distanced himself from the JDF, saying the front was an “attempt to malign” the Jamaat-e-Islami. “I am surprised as the Jamaat is banned and to call the JDF Jamaat-backed is an excess. Confusion is being created among the people. The Jamaat is not backing any party or front,” he said.

Similar statements have been issued by another former Jamaat chief, Sheikh Ghulam Hassan, who served as the Jamaat’s Ameer (chief) for two terms, and by former deputy chief Nazir Ahmad Raina.

A socio-political organisation, the Jamaat-e-Islami was outlawed by the Centre in 2019. In 2024, a “panel” of the organisation stated that it had been mandated by the executive council to oversee party affairs and determine its future course. The panel held talks with the Centre over lifting the ban and also fielded 10 of its candidates as Independents in last year’s Assembly polls as a part of a “deal” with the Centre. However, the candidates failed to impress and all of them, except the candidate in Kulgam, forfeited their deposits.

The JDF panel members, on the other hand, seem to be sticking to their “mandate”. “We constituted the JDF upon the directions of the Shura (executive council of the Jamaat). The decision to form the JDF was made by the same people who asked us to talk with the Centre for lifting the ban. The panel will continue its work till the ban is lifted,” a panel member, Ghulam Qadir Lone, said.

The members also defended the move to join hands with the Peoples Conference, saying a united front was the need of the hour and claimed that alliances would be forged on a “bigger scale” in the future.
With no cadre, the JDF banks on the vast network of Jamaat members and sympathisers. But with very few prominent faces like Ghulam Qadir Wani and Ghulam Qadir Lone, and top Jamaat leadership distancing themselves, the JDF faces an uphill task to make its presence felt politically. Even as a large section of the Jamaat was already against the panel’s decisions, terming them as “betrayal”, the top brass’ distancing is now likely to unite members of the Jamaat against the new front, leaving its future in uncertainty.