Er Rashid threat to national security, sovereignty, should be sent back to Tihar: JKWP chief

Handwara, Oct 09: Jammu and Kashmir Workers’ Party (JKWP) chairman, Mir Junaid on Wednesday accused Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) president Er Rashid, the Member of Parliament for Baramulla, of being a serious threat to national security and sovereignty, saying he should be sent back to Tihar Jail at the earliest.
Junaid criticised Rashid for repeatedly raising the Kashmir issue, saying that it is no longer a concern for the people of Jammu & Kashmir.
Thanking the voters who supported him, he said the law should be equal for everyone. “Those previously imprisoned for discussing the Kashmir issue previously should be released if Rashid, a sitting MP, continues to speak about it,” he said. He questioned why these people were still in jail after so many years when Rashid still speaks about the same.
The JKWP chief went on to say that those seeking the restoration of Article 370 and 35A should face legal action for their demands. He slammed the MP Baramulla for “inspiring” others to constantly bring up the Kashmir issue and questioned how Rashid is allowed to speak against the nation’s sovereignty.
“Articles 370 and 35A were only removed after Sheikh Abdullah accepted the position of Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir,” Mir said. “The real issues in the region are unemployment and development, not Article 370 and 35A.”
Junaid claimed his 10,000 voters are equivalent to millions from other parties. He said Rashid’s popularity is declining, pointing out that while the AIP chief once had large victories, he now wins by only a few hundred votes. “This is an embarrassment for Engineer Rashid,” he remarked.
Junaid also criticised the central government, saying they should stop treating Kashmir as a “lab”. “Their ‘project’ has failed as all of Engineer Rashid’s candidates failed to secure one lakh votes, despite the strong emotional support he had during the Lok Sabah elections,” he said.
The J&K Workers Party chairman also slammed the AIP chief for promoting family politics. “Rashid, who once spoke against family politics, fielded his brother in the Langate constituency, contradicting his earlier position,” he said.
In the assembly elections, Junaid came third in Langate, securing over 9,000 votes.