Banned under India’s Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for fomenting terrorism, pushing anti-India propaganda, and aiding separatism, Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) has now returned to the political field in Jammu and Kashmir — only this time under a new name.
Reports state that former members of Jamaat have formally announced a political party: the Jammu and Kashmir Justice and Development Front (JDF). They have already written to the Election Commission of India seeking the symbol of ‘scales’, and their leaders say this outfit will contest all future polls. According to Shamim Ahmed Thoker, the head of the Jamaat’s J&K unit, the groundwork is complete, and district-level emirs of Jamaat fully back this political move.
The plan, they claim, is to formally launch the party from Srinagar. Several former Jamaat leaders also disclosed that during the last assembly elections, they contested independently because the core leadership hadn’t reached a consensus. Now, after internal consultations, they feel prepared. As per public statements, they hope this move will give them better scope to influence the region.
Recent alliances deepen concerns
This new party has not stayed isolated. Reports reveal that in June 2025, the JDF joined hands with Sajad Lone’s Peoples Conference (PC) and the Peoples Democratic Front (PDF) to launch a collective platform called the People’s Alliance for Change.
They claim this alliance aims to address leadership gaps in J&K. However, given Jamaat’s old ideological alignment with Pakistan-backed separatist narratives, this new avatar under a “development and justice” banner raises serious flags.
Why is this alarming?
The Union Home Ministry has repeatedly stated why the ban on Jamaat was necessary. The Ministry’s 2019 order (extended again in 2024) clearly noted Jamaat’s deep involvement in:
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Fomenting terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir
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Providing ideological and logistical support to groups like Hizbul Mujahideen
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Spreading narratives aligned with Pakistan’s ISI to weaken India’s sovereignty
They also documented attempts by Jamaat to carve out an Islamic state from Indian territory, something fundamentally against India’s unity. The Centre argued that it was crucial to clamp down on such organisations to secure J&K and to prevent subversive activities.
A familiar loophole exploited again
This isn’t the first time such tactics have appeared. When the Popular Front of India (PFI) was banned under UAPA for terror-linked activities, its activists continued working under the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), which remains a registered political entity. As per multiple investigative agency reports, SDPI provided a political cover while core extremist networks stayed intact.
Simply banning an outfit does not erase the ideology of its cadre. They regroup under new banners, keep old networks alive, and try to regain legitimacy through electoral processes. This is a legal loophole that Islamist radical outfits have mastered over decades, leveraging India’s democratic openness to gradually normalise themselves again.
A matter of national security, not routine politics
The situation in Jammu and Kashmir remains delicate. Allowing leaders tied to banned, anti-national organisations to merely rebrand and contest elections threatens not just local stability but India’s sovereignty.
The Centre has already highlighted how these groups have historically tried to fragment the country by promoting separatist sentiment and sheltering terrorists.
It’s worth noting that JDF has yet to receive an official party symbol from the Election Commission. However, their open declaration and the fact that Jamaat leaders are openly spearheading it proves that ideological shifts haven’t occurred; only cosmetic rebranding has.
The bottom line: loopholes that embolden
If such political transformations of banned outfits continue unchecked, it emboldens them. They learn that all they need is a new banner. The ideology remains the same, the networks remain in place, and only the nameplate on the door changes.
India must stay vigilant. Laws must evolve to address not just the organisations, but the continuity of extremist ideology and leadership under fresh labels. Otherwise, the very forces once banned for promoting terror will quietly walk back through democratic doors, ready to try again.