Sajad Lone Talks About Independent Candidates and Politics in Jammu and Kashmir
Sajad Lone, the chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference (JKPC), has shared his views on the role of independent candidates in increasing polling percentages in Jammu and Kashmir. He believes that independent candidates have made elections more inclusive and have led to higher voter turnout.
In an interview, Lone stated, “Independent candidates fighting the polls have increased the polling percentage. What I’m saying is that so many… What is good for the rest of the country is good for J&K. If you are not confining it and making a two-way race in the rest of the country, why should it be a two-way race here? And why shouldn’t we have high polling percentages? Once you have 70-80% polling, you will have a clear political space.”
Lone also discussed the challenges faced by outsiders in mainstream politics in Jammu and Kashmir. He mentioned that the political landscape is dominated by ‘victors’ and ‘victims,’ and outsiders are often labeled as collaborators. He shared his personal experience, saying, “What has happened in the last 30 years, that whenever a real victim tries to enter the mainstream space, the victors collude together and call them collaborators. That is what has happened to me.”
He further added, “There is an establishment, and I am a total outsider. My pedigree is bad, the political pedigree.” Lone also criticized the political alliances formed in the name of national security, stating that they often undermine democracy.
Additionally, Lone expressed his support for former Jamaat-e-Islami leaders participating in the upcoming elections. He emphasized their understanding of victimhood, saying, “The mainstream is packed with victors. They have never been in jail. I have been to jail. They have never been tortured. I have been tortured. The Jamaat, most of them that you see, must have been tortured. Or their children must have been tortured. Or they must have spent years in jail. Or their colleagues must have spent years in jail. So they know what it is like to be a victim. They understand the pain of the victim.”
Doubts Revealed
Sajad Lone -: Sajad Lone is a politician from Jammu and Kashmir, a region in India. He is the chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference (JKPC).
Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference (JKPC) -: The Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference (JKPC) is a political party in Jammu and Kashmir, India. It was founded to represent the interests of the people in this region.
Independent candidates -: Independent candidates are people who run for elections without being part of any political party. They stand on their own and are not affiliated with any established political group.
Election polling percentages -: Election polling percentages refer to the number of votes that different candidates or parties receive in an election. It shows how popular they are among the voters.
Mainstream politics -: Mainstream politics involves the major political parties and their activities. It is the usual way politics is done in a country or region.
Political establishment -: The political establishment refers to the existing political leaders and institutions that hold power and influence in a region or country.
Collaborators -: In this context, collaborators are people who are accused of working with or supporting the political establishment, sometimes seen negatively by others.
Jamaat-e-Islami -: Jamaat-e-Islami is an Islamic political organization. In Jammu and Kashmir, it has been involved in social and political activities.
Victimhood and suffering -: Victimhood and suffering refer to the experiences of people who have been harmed or treated unfairly. In this context, it means understanding the hardships faced by people in Jammu and Kashmir.
