JeI was banned in 2019 as an unlawful organisation under the anti-terror law UAPA.

By Nazir Masoodi

Srinagar: 

The banned group Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) has said it is engaged in talks with the Centre and expressed its willingness to contest elections if the ban on the Islamist organisation is lifted in Jammu and Kashmir.

The statement has come ahead of Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Srinagar this evening.

JeI was banned in 2019 as an unlawful organisation under the anti-terror law UAPA. JeI was seen as the driving force behind the separatist movement in Kashmir and an ideological mentor of the terrorist organisation Hizbul Mujahideen.

Mr Shah is meeting several delegations in Srinagar and there is a buzz about whether a Jamaat delegation will also meet the Home Minister.

Official sources, however, said there is no plan of a meeting between Jamat leaders and the Home Minister during his Srinagar visit. 

“There is engagement with the group at some level but no such meeting is scheduled with the Home Minister,” the source said. He added that the leaders of some political groups will be meeting Mr Shah and he will review the political situation in the Valley.

This story was originally published in ndtv.com. Read the full story here.