Srinagar, Sept 11: After being released from Tihar Jail on interim bail, Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid vowed to continue his political struggle against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Naya Kashmir.”
Rashid said, “I will not let down my people. I take a pledge that I will fight PM Modi’s narrative of ‘Naya Kashmir,’ which has failed. People have rejected whatever he did on August 5, 2019.”
Rashid, who defeated former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, expressed that his fight is not for power but for the people. “My fight is bigger than what Omar Abdullah says. His fight is for the chair; my fight is for the people,” he stressed.
Rashid further accused the BJP of using oppressive tactics against him, stating, “I am a victim of BJP, and I will fight against PM Modi’s ideology till my last breath.”
He highlighted his commitment to working for the welfare of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, insisting that he would not be intimidated by any political pressure.
National Conference (NC) Vice President Omar Abdullah, who lost to Rashid in the elections, criticized the court’s decision to grant interim bail. Abdullah argued, “This bail has not been granted to serve the people or attend Parliament.” He added, “He has not been granted bail to work as a parliamentarian but to fetch votes here. After that, he will be taken back to Tihar, and the people of north Kashmir will again be without a representative.”
Rashid’s party, the Awami Ittehad Party (AIP), is set to contest in the upcoming assembly elections, which will be held in three phases starting September 18. The court allowed Rashid’s temporary release to campaign, but under strict conditions, including a bond of ₹2 lakh, a surety, and a prohibition on discussing the ongoing terror funding case with the media.
Rashid has been in custody since 2019 following his arrest by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. He was implicated in a 2017 terror funding case, and the court has deferred its decision on his regular bail plea to October 5.
Rashid’s release has sparked reactions from various political leaders. Ghulam Nabi Azad, chief of the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP), welcomed the court’s decision, calling it a “step towards justice.” However, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti criticized Rashid, accusing him of being a proxy for the BJP and pointing out the unequal treatment of jailed individuals.
Despite the controversies surrounding his release, Rashid remains firm in his political stance. “I am coming to Kashmir to unite my people, not to divide them,” he stated, reaffirming his commitment to his cause and his people.
