Jamat e Islami former Gen Secy casts vote Reveals Shocking Details About 1987 Election Rigging

Ghulam Qadir Lone, former General Secretary and district president of the banned Jama’at-e-Islami (JeI) from Ananwan, Qaziabad, voiced his hope on Monday that the electoral irregularities of 1987 would not be repeated. Speaking to Rising Kashmir after casting his vote in Ananwan village, Lone reflected on the loss of faith in democracy due to the mass rigging in the 1987 elections.

Lone, who was a contestant in that election and lost by 700 votes to the NC’s candidate, expressed his desire for future elections in Kashmir to be free of rigging, with the results accurately reflecting the voters’ will.

When asked why he was confident about the absence of future rigging, Lone said he had no assurances but believed that things had changed. He noted that India had recognized the significant damage caused by past rigging and that young people were becoming more aware of these issues. He stressed that avoiding rigging was crucial for improving the situation.

Lone urged the youth to actively participate in the electoral process by registering to vote, emphasizing their vital role in shaping the future through democratic engagement. He also expressed his willingness to engage in elections if the current ban on certain political activities is lifted, stating, “If the ban is revoked, I will take part in elections.”

Reflecting on the 1987 election, Lone recounted how thousands of voters were prevented from voting after 1 PM due to rigging, which led to the opposition candidate’s victory. He reiterated his hope that such electoral fraud would not occur again, allowing for genuine representation of the people’s will.