Srinagar, Jan 31: Authorities on Friday disallowed the Awami Ittehad Party’s (AIP) attempt to stage a hunger strike in support of its jailed leader, Member of Parliament (MP) Er Rashid. The protest, to demand Rashid’s release from Tihar Jail, was halted by police as AIP members gathered outside their party office in Srinagar.
The demonstration was initially planned to take place at Pratap Park in Lal Chowk. However, district authorities denied permission, leading the protesters to relocate to the Sangarmaal Shopping Complex. Despite this, police were already stationed there, and as the protest began, several participants, including Rashid’s son Abrar, were detained and taken to Kothibagh Police Station.
Before his arrest, Abrar condemned the government’s decision to block his father from attending Parliament, calling it a “murder of democracy”. He said Rashid, who has been in jail for over five years, continues to be denied his basic democratic rights, including the right to represent his constituents.
Rashid, currently on an indefinite hunger strike in Tihar Jail, has become the focal point of the AIP’s call for his release. The hunger strike was organised to express solidarity with the jailed leader, who has been a vocal critic of the government’s policies.
MLA Langate, Sheikh Khurshid expressed concern over the detentions and stated that the party would evaluate its next steps once the detained leaders were released.
The party said police detained several AIP workers briefly before dispersing the crowd. One supporter shared their frustration, saying, “We came here to protest peacefully for the release of our leader, but the police didn’t allow us.”
Despite the setback, AIP officials, including Vice President G.N. Shaheen said the party will apply for fresh permission to stage the hunger strike. He vowid to continue advocating for Rashid’s release and his rights as a member of Parliament.
Peaceful protest a right, not charity: Lone
People’s Conference (PC) president Sajad Lone on Friday criticised the administration’s decision to deny permission to the Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) to hold a peaceful protest in Srinagar, asserting that “peaceful dissent is a right, not charity”.
“Irrespective of our political differences with AIP, we (defend) their right to protest. They have not been allowed to hold a peaceful protest,” he said.
Lone highlighted the region’s troubled history of stifling peaceful dissent, warning that such actions have historically proven “very costly”. He urged authorities to “learn from the mistakes of the past and create a dignified space for peaceful dissent or protest”. (KNS)
