Baramulla: Jailed Kashmiri leader Sheikh Abdul Rashid, widely recognized as Engineer Rashid, has officially entered the electoral fray for the North Kashmir’s Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency. Despite his incarceration, Rashid is contesting as an independent candidate, with his son, 26-year-old Abrar Rashid, spearheading the election campaign in his absence.
Engineer Rashid, founder of the Awami-e-Ittihad Party (AIP), and two-time MLA from Langate, has been lodged in Delhi’s Tihar prisonsince 2019 following his arrest by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in an alleged money laundering case related to militancy funding in the Valley.
“You all know, my father has fought for the Kashmiri people for 11 years. Whether inside or outside the assembly, he always voiced for Kashmir and its people. He didn’t hesitate to speak out against human rights violations in Kashmir,” said Rashid’s son after filing the nomination papers.
“He never sought mansions or big cars for himself. He was always accused of being a Pakistani or Indian agent, but time has proven that he was an agent of his conscience,” he said.
“It's not Engineer Rashid who is contesting from the Baramulla constituency, but the will of the Kashmiri people,” he added.
Leading an election rally in North Kashmir Uri, his son addressed public saying: “We don’t have money for banners, posters and vehicles. Our hope is our people who will come out in big numbers to vote for Engineer Rashid.”
In the 2019 elections, Rashid emerged as a notable contender for the Baramulla seat. He secured a commendable third position, garnering over a lakh votes, thereby outpacing candidates fielded by both the PDP and the Congress.
Rashid has led several protests against alleged human rights violations in the region. He made headlines for organizing a beef party at Srinagar’s MLA hostel after beef was banned across many Indian states.
In 2015, he hoisted the J&K flag at Srinagar’s Pratap Park and demanded that June 7 be observed as the state flag day, protesting against the BJP’s “one flag, one nation slogan.”
Former legislator and leader of the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP), Shoiab Lone, is the only unionist openly supporting Engineer Rashid.
With his entry into the contest, he becomes the third strong candidate to enter the electoral fray after National Conference (NC)’s Omar Abdullah, Peoples Conference (JKPC) chief Sajad Lone, and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Fayaz Ahmad Mir.
In the Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency, Congress is backing the NC as part of its INDIA alliance. PC’s Sajad is garnering support from the Altaf Bukhari-led J&K Apni Party, which is perceived to have close ties with the BJP.
Baramulla is scheduled to go to the polls on May 20.