Aijaz Ahmad Guru, the sibling of Afzal Guru, who was sentenced for the 2001 Parliament attack, has declared his intention to run as an independent candidate in the forthcoming Jammu and kashmir assembly elections for the Sopore constituency.

Afzal Guru was executed on February 9, 2013, due to his role in the Parliament attack that claimed the lives of nine individuals. His execution led to significant protests in Kashmir, and his remains were interred in Tihar Jail, a matter that continues to provoke controversy among his supporters and human rights advocates. Many in Kashmir perceive his execution as a symbol of the region's complicated relationship with the Indian government, prompting ongoing discussions regarding justice and political representation.

Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections
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Key Focus for Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections Candidates

Aijaz, aged 58, who has a background in the animal husbandry department and currently works as a contractor, has articulated that his motivation for entering politics stems from a commitment to advocate for the youth of Kashmir, especially those he believes have been wrongfully incarcerated. His son, Shoaib Aijaz Guru, was detained in December 2023 on allegations of drug trafficking, which Aijaz asserts are unfounded. He has vowed to seek justice for his son and others he believes have been falsely accused, declaring, "I will highlight the cases of other innocent people who are in jail on false charges".

Aijaz has made it abundantly clear that, despite his familial ties to Afzal Guru, he will not leverage his brother's legacy in his campaign. He has articulated that his ideological stance is markedly different from that of Afzal, contending that the political leaders in Kashmir have failed the populace. "I won’t seek votes in the name of my brother. My ideology is entirely different," he remarked, underscoring his dedication to addressing local concerns such as employment and infrastructure development in Sopore, which he asserts have been overlooked by prior administrations.

Sopore has traditionally been a bastion of separatist ideology, particularly influenced by figures like Syed Ali Geelani. Nevertheless, recent electoral trends indicate a transformation, as evidenced by a significant rise in voter participation. In the Lok Sabha elections, more than 44% of eligible voters cast their ballots, suggesting a potential evolution in political involvement within the region. Aijaz's candidacy contributes to an expanding roster of contenders, which includes both local personalities and representatives from established political parties, such as Haji Abdul Rashid Dar from Congress and Irshad Kar from the National Conference.

The forthcoming assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir will mark the first such event since the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019. Regarding economic development, Jammu and Kashmir has garnered investment proposals exceeding ₹81,000 crore, a significant increase compared to the ₹14,000 crore received from independence until 2019. The tourism industry has also seen remarkable growth, with 1.88 crore tourists recorded in 2022 and 2.11 crore in 2023.

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