A day earlier than the J&Ok Meeting election outcomes are declared, Awami Ittehad Get together (AIP) president and Baramulla MP Sheikh Abdul Rashid, popularly referred to as Engineer Rashid, on Monday urged the mainstream political events of Jammu and Kashmir to carry off on authorities formation till J&Ok’s statehood is restored.
Rashid is on interim bail until October 12 and is anticipated to return to Tihar the next day. At a press convention, mentioned, “I perceive the INDIA alliance has its limitations. The Congress took votes in Kashmir however remained silent on (Article) 370. Proper now, I’ve a suggestion to all of them, til statehood is restored to us, strive to not kind authorities.”
Stating that he doesn’t want to “add bitterness” to the environment, Rashid mentioned even when a celebration or an alliance did safe a majority, “it could be higher if all these events ought to concentrate on one level and inform the Union authorities to return statehood, now that elections are over”.
Urging all events, together with the Nationwide Convention (NC) and the Peoples Democratic Get together (PDP) to come back collectively, Rashid mentioned, “This isn’t an enormous problem. Modi ji has anyway modified the goalpost. Unitedly, they need to inform the Union authorities to revive statehood so it restores some dignity and if they need the help of the AIP, we are going to help them.” He mentioned his occasion’s help can be regardless of the very fact of who will get a majority as a result of “the federal government that takes over can have restricted powers”.
Terming this the “want of each voter”, Rashid mentioned that political events in J&Ok “ought to transfer past issuing statements and take sensible actions to revive the self-confidence and rights of the individuals”. If all of the elected representatives of J&Ok stand united and inform the Centre that they’ll steer clear of efforts at authorities formation until statehood is restored, “it is going to be good for the individuals”, mentioned the MP.
NC vp Omar Abdullah hit out at Rashid, saying he was enjoying into the fingers of the BJP. “The person goes to Delhi for twenty-four hours and comes again to play straight into the fingers of the BJP. The BJP would love nothing greater than to increase central rule in J&Ok in the event that they aren’t able to kind a authorities,” Abdullah posted on X.
Rashid, who was granted bail final month to marketing campaign for the Meeting elections, mentioned on Monday, “For 5 years, the Gupkar alliance and the so-called regional events didn’t do something. Now that elections are over, I humbly request the INDIA Alliance, PDP, Peoples Convention, Apni Get together and others to face united now.”
On the problem of nomination of members to the J&Ok Meeting, Rashid questioned the Centre’s claims of integration of J&Ok, saying, “If Modi ji and Amit Shah ji declare that integration is full with ek nishan, ek vidhan, why is there this technique of nominations for J&Ok?”
Rashid mentioned Kashmiri Pandits have been eligible to contest elections and have been stakeholders “simply as different Kashmiris are.” Nominating members is “in opposition to the spirit of democracy and Structure,” he added.
With the exit polls additionally indicating that no occasion or coalition in J&Ok could find yourself with a easy majority, the confusion concerning the 5 members to be nominated to the Meeting by the Lieutenant Governor has events fearful. Whereas most events have mentioned Lt Governor Manoj Sinha shouldn’t make the nominations with out the “help and recommendation” of the Council of Ministers that can be sworn in quickly, the BJP has mentioned he’s not required to as per the J&Ok Reorganisation Act. A number of authorized consultants The Indian Categorical spoke to additionally differed over what the adjustments implied.
Rashid’s AIP contested 34 of the 90 Meeting seats in J&Ok, largely in Kashmir. Throughout his marketing campaign, the MP focused all of the events and mentioned his combat was “for the individuals of Jammu and Kashmir” and never for energy.
