SRINAGAR: The Jamat-e-Islami, a strong political force in Kashmir, is once again in a crisis as its most influential leader and head of the hard-line faction of the Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Geelani has refused to accept its direction to disassociate from his Tehreek-e-Hurriyat.

This is the second time since militancy broke out in Kashmir in late 1989 that the Jamat is facing such a crisis arising out of the approach to the resolution of the Kashmir issue.

In early 1990, when the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, the indigenous militant organisation, was almost declared its "armed wing" by the then commander, Ahsan Dar, the Jamat cadre all over the Valley became vulnerable.

Differences arose between the Hizb and the Jamat, with the situation becoming volatile and Jamat cadre being targeted by insurgents.

Ghulam Mohammad Bhat, the moderate face of the Jamat, took over as its chief, publicly distanced the organisation from the Hizb and stressed for a political solution. Notwithstanding resistance from the hardliners, he is believed to have played a major role in "saving the lives of hundreds of Jamat workers."

Mr. Geelani, who for long was head of the Jamat's political bureau, represented the party in the undivided Hurriyat till September 2003. After that, he took on the Hurriyat for not taking action against the People's Conference (founded by the late Hurriyat leader Abdul Gani Lone) for fielding proxy candidates in the 2002 elections.

It again led to a crisis in the Jamat, which was unable to decide which faction to join when the Hurriyat split.

However, Mr. Geelani, with strong support from the Jamat cadre, was allowed to float the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, which became part of his faction of the Hurriyat Conference.

The Tehreek came into existence in 2004 and is espousing a hard-line cause vis-à-vis the Kashmir issue and also supporting militants publicly.

Last week, Jamat chief Syed Nazir Kashani issued notices to Mr. Geelani and others asking them to sever ties with the Tehreek and return to the parent organisation by June 30.

Mr. Geelani dismissed the action as unconstitutional and refused to oblige the Jamat chief.

"Our party will boycott the coming district-level Jamat elections. The day TeH was born, the Jamat, in a written agreement, had stated that they have no objection to formation of our party," he said.

"However, on June 30, the JI Amir [Syed Nazir Ahmed Kashani] unexpectedly severed ties with the TeH and asked me to rejoin the JI, which is a breach of the written agreement, the JI constitution, the Koran and the sunnah [teachings of Prophet Muhammed]. Breaking an agreement is against the sayings of Islam."

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