The nomination form of Kashmiri separatist leader Sarjan Ahmad Wagay for the upcoming assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir has been rejected.
Wagay, popularly known as Barkati Series, He had filed papers from Zainpora Assembly constituency in Shopian district, where voting in the first phase is scheduled to be held on September 18. His nomination has been rejected due to “criminal background”.
Barkati was a prominent face during protest demonstrations in Shopian and Kulgam districts in south Kashmir following the killing of Burhan Wani in 2016.
Killed in a clash on July 8, 2016, Wani was the district’s top commander. Hizbul Mujahideen and became a symbol of militancy in Kashmir. His killing sparked widespread protests in the Kashmir Valley that left around 90 people dead.
Barkati was arrested in October 2016 and released four years later. He was arrested again in August 2023, in connection with a terror financing case. His wife was later arrested as well.
Barkati’s daughter Sugra Barkati filed the nomination papers on behalf of her father on Monday.
Jammu and Kashmir The Jammu and Kashmir government is voting to elect its 90-member assembly in three phases. While the first phase of voting in Jammu and Kashmir is scheduled for September 18, the other two rounds will be held on September 25 and October 1. The votes will be counted on October 4.
A total of 279 candidates have filed their nomination papers in 24 assembly segments across seven districts, which will go to polls in the first phase on September 18. Of the 24 seats up for vote in the first phase, 16 are in the Valley and eight in the Jammu region.
Barkati’s attempt at electoral politics came months later Engineer Rashidjailed under the UAPA, defeated former Prime Minister Omar Abdullah and People’s Conference president Sajad Lone in the Baramulla seat.
Apart from Barkati, many former members of the banned group Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir have also filed nomination papers to contest the Assembly elections in the Union Territory as independent candidates.
Although Jamaat is unable to participate in the elections due to the ban imposed by the Ministry of the Interior of the Unionhad expressed interest in contesting the Lok Sabha elections if the ban was lifted.
Jamaat did not participate in any elections after 1987 and was part of the separatist amalgamation. Hurriyat Conferencewho advocated electoral boycotts between 1993 and 2003.
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