Jailed separatist leader Sarjan Barkati to try his luck against Omar Abdullah in Ganderbal

Srinagar, Sep 04: After the Election Commission of India (ECI) rejected his nomination papers from the Zainapora constituency in south Kashmir, citing incomplete application, jailed cleric and separatist leader, Sarjan Ahmad Wagay or Sarjan Barkati is said to file his nomination papers again.

However, reports said that this time, he has decided to contest from the Ganderbal Assembly seat in central Kashmir, where he will fight former Chief Minister and JKNC vice president Omar Abdullah.

“Yes, it has been decided that (Barkati) will file his nomination papers from Ganderbal,” his nephew Rehbar Ahmad told The Indian Express.

The Ganderbal constituency has been a bastion of the Abdullah family. Their three generations-Sheikh Abdullah, Farooq Abdullah, and Omar Abdullah-have contested from the seat.

Omar, who won the seat in 2008 elections has been fielded from the seat this time again.

Sarjan Barkati, popularly known as  'Azaadi Chacha' or Freedom Uncle got his nomination papers rejected on August 28, with officials saying he couldn't provide a complete signed oath certificate on time.

While Barkati’s family then said they would approach the court to get the decision overturned, a decision has now been taken for the 38-year-old to contest from Ganderbal.

Barkati's decision to fight the elections surprised many people in Kashmir. His young daughter, Sugra Barkati, had filed the nomination papers on his behalf. She was seen urging people to vote for her incarcerated father, in a hope, that the win might secure his bail.

Barkati, who was once affiliated with the Ummat-e-Islami, a socio-religious organisation, was arrested by the State Investigation Agency (SIA) for an alleged fundraiser in August 2023. A few months later, his wife was also arrested in the case.

“The case pertains to Barkati’s involvement in orchestrating an extensive fundraising campaign, resulting in the generation of funds amounting to crores. These funds were subsequently misused, involving money laundering and acquisition of undisclosed assets for propagation of radicalism within the Kashmir Valley,” the SIA had said.

The cleric was the central figure in protest rallies in South Kashmir, triggered by the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in 2016, which lasted over three months. Barkati’s unique style of sloganeering had soon made him popular, earning him the moniker “freedom chacha”.

Police registered 30 cases against Barkati over the protest rallies. He managed to give them the slip several times before finally being held in October 2016 and booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA).

He was released two years later, but was again arrested under the PSA. Released in November 2022, he was booked in August 2023 over the fund raising charges.