SUHAIL KHAN
SRINAGAR, Aug 16: As the Chief Election Commissioner of India announced the dates for the Assembly Elections on Friday, the focus is on jailed leader Er Rashid, who emerged victorious in the recently held Lok Sabha elections from the Baramulla Constituency, defeating a former J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah by a significant margin.
Sheikh Abdul Rashid, also known as Engineer Rashid, is the founder of the Jammu and Kashmir Awami Ittehad Party. He has previously won the Jammu and Kashmir assembly seat twice, in 2008 and 2014, representing the Langate Assembly.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, he also contested but lost, however in 2024 Lok Sabha election he emerged winner.
Jailed in Terror Funding Case
Rashid, a 57-year-old jailed MP, was arrested in 2019 and charged by the NIA under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). He was the first mainstream politician to be booked under the anti-terror law. He has been lodged in the Tihar jail since August 9, 2019, on charges of alleged terror financing.
In an exclusive interview with Kashmir Despatch, Abrar Rashid, the son of the jailed MP, said that Awami Ittehad Party is ready to create another history by securing a significant margin in the upcoming Assembly elections.
He stated that the traditional parties (National Conference (NC), People’s Democratic Party (PDP)) who have ruled Kashmir for decades, making false promises and making the lives of common masses hell, need to be replaced in this Assembly election as well, as the people have already voiced their choice in the recently held Lok Sabha elections.
He said it is the right time for the people to bid farewell to the traditional parties who have only made them suffer, and Er. Rashid is a living example, being behind bars for the people.
He acknowledged that Er Rashid has not been released from jail yet, but his representation has already made its presence felt on the ground, reaching out to everyone and listening to their issues.
He stated that they have already kicked off their election campaign in Kashmir and will be contesting on all 9 seats.
Abrar, who is pursuing a Master’s degree in Botany, has been the superhero campaigner for his jailed father Engineer Abdul Rashid during the Lok Sabha elections. He said that after a party meeting, we will announce the candidates for the upcoming elections. He expressed confidence that the people will not disappoint Er Rashid in this election as well, like they supported him in the recently held Lok Sabha elections.
Suhail Khan is a filmmaker, content writer, and freelance journalist.
