‘I’m not a BJP proxy, will take Kashmir issue to Delhi’
Formation of government is a petty matter, the bigger issue is to resolve the Kashmir problem
Lok Sabha MP Engineer Rashid, who is at present out on bail for the campaigning of the J&K Assembly elections, says his surprise win in the Lok Sabha elections was a vote “against the abrogation of J&K’s special status in 2019.” In an interview with The Tribune correspondent Adil Akhzer, he rubbished the allegations that he is a BJP proxy and said he would take the Kashmir issue to Delhi. The Excerpts:
What has changed after five years in Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370?
I feel people are now keen to join the electoral process. Kashmiris have realised that boycotting elections and resorting to violence will take them nowhere. So, they are using democratic means to get themselves heard. Kashmiris want to give vent to their anger through elections. So, let (PM Narendra) Modi ji not celebrate over it. People feel oppressed and suppressed. Kashmiris know when, where and how much to strike and how to survive in a conflict.
Why do you think people voted for you?
As an MLA, I have worked for the youth and their education. I protected them from the wrath of the Army, police and all sorts of stakeholders. People concluded that there is one man at least out of 87 lawmakers who stood with them. I was taken to Tihar Jail. Had I compromised, I would have been out. People also rejected and voted against Modi’s decision to abrogate Article 370.
Why did you contest the Lok Sabha elections?
I would not have perhaps contested the LS elections had I not been pressurised to support their B team (candidate). The irony today is that they are calling me B team. I asked my lawyer to file my nomination form. I came to know through a jail official that he saw my son campaigning for me on social media. I had no idea that my son was campaigning for me. I sent a strong verbal message to my son Abrar, stating that your job is to study, what the hell you are doing. I didn’t get any response... I was sure that I would win. On the day of the result, an inmate told me that he saw on TV that Omar Abdullah had accepted the defeat. Everyone was happy there.
How’s the response from people towards the Awami Ittehad Party?
Since I have come out of the jail, people have given me a lot of love, be it in South Kashmir or north Kashmir. I have received a lot of love and enthusiasm from them.
Your political opponents say they have mentioned about restoration of Article 370 in their manifestos. So, what is your roadmap?
Now, I have a bigger platform as an MP. If my party gets MLAs in the Assembly elections, be it 1 or 20 or 30, I can at least take the Kashmir issue to Delhi. Omar and Mehbooba failed because they have been representing Delhi in Kashmir. But I am representing Kashmir in Delhi.
You have been talking about
the Kashmir issue ever since you came out of jail. Do you think Delhi is ready to address the Kashmir issue?
Delhi has to address it. Justice has no alternative. We are not against India. I have faith in institutions. India regularly says we will talk to Pakistan if it shuns terrorism…Tomorrow, let us assume, if Pakistan stops, whatsoever PM Modi means, terrorism, then India has to talk. What will they talk about?...Obviously, they will have to deal with the Kashmir issue.
If you get seats in the Assembly poll, whom will you ally with?
Formation of government is a petty issue for me. The bigger issue for me is to resolve the Kashmir problem and to take the people of J&K out of the mess.
Your opponents are raising questions about the timing of your bail. They even call you a BJP proxy.
They are questioning the timing of bail. I got bail because Arvind Kejriwal also got the bail for election campaigning. They (opponents) told their cadres that once I am out of jail, I would be broken. After coming out of jail, I told people that I am there to unite them. I also said (PM) Modi’s Naya Kashmir had failed. After my statements, they (opponents) got frustrated and started propaganda against me.
Why have you been criticising opponents heavily?
I have no personal grievances with them. Kashmiris gave them everything. In return, they disappointed them. They did nothing in the past five years. Once Farooq Abdullah said he would use the Gandhian way to get Article 370 back. They just bulldozed Kashmir people by taking the battle to the court. A political issue was made legal. Politicians should have fought it politically and not take it to the court.
