Srinagar, June 06: Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Front (PDF) and former minister Hakeem Muhammad Yaseen on Thursday said that Er Rashid’s victory should not be seen as promoting secessionist or Islamic movements in Kashmir, as the Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) chief has previously won elections on secular credentials.
The statement comes in the backdrop of the former chief minister and National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah on Thursday sharing a news article on a social media platform that suggested Er Rashid’s win in the Baramulla Lok Sabha seat will empower “secessionists”.
In a statement issued here, Yaseen said the people of Jammu and Kashmir have voted against the politics of hate, arbitrariness and obstinacy in the recent parliamentary elections. The verdict should not be misused to serve personal interests, he added.
Hakeem said the people of Jammu and Kashmir expressed their displeasure with political exploitation and arbitrary policies through their votes, not to promote secessionism or Islamic movements. He outrightly rejected any presumptions that Er Rashid’s win would advance such ideologies in Kashmir. “The people of Jammu and Kashmir are secular by conviction and desire peace and development,” he said.
The PDF chief said the people have recognised the futility of violence and conflict, which have caused immense suffering in the region over the past three decades, and now seek lasting peace.
“The unprecedented voter turnout in the parliamentary elections reflects a strong desire for the revival of electoral democracy,” he said. Hakeem urged the new Central government to meet the expectations of the people by restoring statehood and holding assembly elections without further delay.
“The enthusiasm shown by the masses for electoral democracy needs to be reciprocated by promptly holding assembly elections,” the former minister said, adding, “The era of political exploitation is over. The people of Jammu and Kashmir can no longer be deceived by false promises and deceptive slogans from traditional political parties with a history of broken promises.”
