Jailed cleric’s daughter strikes emotional chord with voters in Kashmir

After Lok Sabha MP Engineer Rashid’s son created ripples in the political circles by campaigning for him, a similar story is playing out in Central Kashmir’s Beerwah, which goes to polls on Wednesday.

Sugra Barkati, the 17-year-old daughter of jailed cleric and pro-separatist Sarjan Ahmad Wagay, alias Sarjan Barkati, has become a face of poll campaigning for Barkati.

She has been doing extensive campaigning for her jailed father and trying to strike a emotional chord with electors.

“My father got a call from the police regarding some verification. Since that day, I have been waiting for him to return home. No one has helped us, but I request you to help us. Please vote for us,” says Sugra.

“I’m receiving an overwhelming response from the public. I tell people that I want to release my parents from jail,” she adds, while talking to The Tribune.

“Ever, since my parents have been jailed, no one has visited our home. We have suffered a lot in their absence. Only we know what kind of life, we have lived. It was full of thorns,” she says.

Sugra refers to Rashid’s son, Abrar Rashid, who campaigned for his father in the Lok Sabha elections from Baramulla.

Rashid defeated former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah by over two lakh of votes.

“After Rashid sahab’s son fought for his father, I decided to fight for my father and mother,” she says. “I am hopeful that if he (father) is elected, he would be released,” she adds.

Her intense campaigning has unnerved key opponents such as Nazir Ahmad Khan, the candidate of Rashid’s party. In a viral video, Khan has alleged that Sugra is campaigning to divide the votes and helping the NC, a charge denied by Sugra.

During the first phase, Wagay had filed the nomination from Zainapora area of South Kashmir. It was, however, rejected due to improper documentation. Later, he decided to fight from Beerwah’s Budgam and Ganderbal seats. However, Sugra has focused her campaign in the Beerwah segment only.

Barkati shot to prominence during the protest that followed after the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani in 2016.

He remained a central figure in the massive protests and got name of ‘Freedom chacha.’Last year, the State Investigation Agency had arrested him for his alleged involvement in “orchestrating an extensive fund-raising campaign through crowd funding.”