‘It’s constitutional right’: Jamaat-e-Islami backed candidate on Kashmiri Muslim women marrying outside religion

SRINAGAR: Dr Kalimullah, the Jamaat-e-Islami-backed independent candidate for the Langate constituency, on Saturday defended the constitutional rights of Kashmiri Muslim women who marry outside their religion.

“Such marriages are protected under Indian law, and no one has the right to object,” he said while addressing his first public meeting in the Ananwan village of Handwara in which senior JeI members were also present.

He criticised the way social media is being used to create tensions between Hindus and Muslims, urging the government to act against those who are trying to give these marriages a communal colour.

“From 1947 to 1987, there were no reports of Hindu-Muslim tensions in Kashmir. However, efforts are now being made to stoke discord between the two communities,” he said, adding, “The political leaders must prioritise prosperity and progress in the valley as peace can only be achieved if the rights of all people, especially the minority communities, are upheld.”

Citing Article 25, which guarantees freedom of religion, he said, “Religion is above everything else.”

Dr Kalimullah addressed several pressing issues affecting the Langate constituency, such as the lack of health infrastructure, education and other basic amenities. He raised serious concerns about the growing drug menace in Kashmir, claiming that the issue is not being discussed or addressed adequately.

He alleged that many of those arrested for drug-related crimes are being released without proper action. He called for urgent intervention to tackle this growing problem.

The JeI-backed candidate also criticised the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, saying that Kashmiris are falling behind compared to the rest of the country. “Very few people in the valley are familiar with computer languages, which makes it difficult to compete even with smaller countries,” he said.

He also condemned the arrest and alleged torture of religious scholars and called for the release of all Kashmiri prisoners who have been in jail for a long time.

Dr Kalimullah expressed concern over the rise of drug abuse and online betting in Kashmir. He cited research that showed children as young as 10 and adults as old as 75 are involved in drug use. “Many people lose their hard-earned money through betting, especially during IPL matches,” he said. (RK)