Will further vitiate Valley politics: BJP’s Ram Madhav slams Er Rasheed
Lok Sabha MP from Baramulla Sheikh Abdul Rashid, popularly known as Engineer Rashid, walked out of Tihar Jail on Wednesday after a Delhi court granted him interim bail till October 2. Rashid was incarcerated since 2019 in connection with a terror funding case after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) charged him under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. After walking out, he pledged to “fight against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s narrative of ‘Naya Kashmir’.”
Earlier this year, he had contested the Lok Sabha polls from Baramulla and had won after defeating former CM Omar Abdullah. Now, he is set to contest the upcoming assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir, for which the court has granted him bail so that he can campaign.
He was welcomed by his sons and supporters as he walked out of the prison. After walking out, he spoke to reporters outside the jail and said that he would continue to fight for his people and vowed to fight against PM Modi’s narrative of ‘Naya Kashmir’. He lashed out at Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti for suggesting that his bail was intentional and that his Awami Ittehad Party will act as a proxy for the BJP.
“My fight is much more bigger than what Omar Abdullah says. My fight is for the people, his fight is for the chair…He has come out of now for votes…People of North Kashmir already responded to him on June 4 when he lost by more than two lakh votes…I don’t need certificates from such people…” he said, reacting to Omar Abdullah’s remarks.
Rashid further said: “I was in jail for five-and-a-half years. I am committed to fighting for my people. I am coming back to unite people and not divide them..I want to bring everlasting peace to Kashmir and prove that Kashmiris are not stone pelters. But we will not compromise with our political rights,” he said, adding, “I will fight the prime minister’s narrative of Naya Kashmir”.
Rashid also slammed PM Modi over the abrogation of Article 370 in the Valley, which he said “failed miserably” as people of Jammu and Kashmir “rejected whatsoever he did on August 5.” “The vote to me was a referendum against Modi’s policy, especially abrogation of Article 370 and 25 A. I am committed to work for the welfare of my people for the peaceful resolution of Kashmir’s conflict. I would like to tell Modiji Daro Matt, Darao Matt. We will not be scared,” he said.
Addressing a press conference, Rashid stated: “I love people of India, I love humanity. Modi ji says ‘one world one family’… ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’… Does he mean his words? Are we not part of that family? No one talks about us…”
Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections are scheduled to be held in three phases — September 18, September 25, and October 1. The results will be declared on October 8.
Meanwhile, Senior BJP leader and election incharge for Jammu and Kashmir, Ram Madhav slammed Er Rasheed for his remarks after he was released on interim bail from Tihar jail after almost 5 years.
In a post on X, Ram Madhav reacted to Er Rashid’s remarks where he said he will defeat Modi’s idea of “Naya Kashmir”.
“This rank separatist, in jail for last 5 years under UAPA for indulging in anti-India activities, is out on bail to further vitiate Valley politics. Look at d language… anti-Modi rants, restoring Art 370, freeing terrorists from jails,” he said.
He said that this is no different from what Omar or Mehabooba or even others like Lone, of NC, PDP or PC – the Gupkar Gang – is saying.
“He wants to defeat Modi’s dream of Naya Kashmir. We accept d challenge. Naya Kashmir’s March will go on unrelenting,” Madhav said.
