My fight is for ‘Kashmir issue’, not against NC, PDP: Er Rashid

Srinagar, Sept 13: Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) chairman Engineer Rashid on Friday reaffirmed that his fight is for the resolution of the “Kashmir issue”, not against the National Conference (NC), People’s Democratic Party (PDP) or any other group.
Addressing a large rally in Anantnag, the Member of Parliament (MP) from Baramulla clarified that his struggle is focused on restoring Jammu 7 Kashmir’s special status. “Our fight is not against NC and PDP; it is centred on the restoration of Article 370 and Article 35A. The resolution of the Kashmir issue is our ultimate goal, something these leaders have consistently sidelined,” he said.
Rashid, who is focusing on south Kashmir ahead of the first phase of assembly elections on Sep 18, accused NC vice president Omar Abdullah and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti of hypocrisy.
“Our so-called regional leaders, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, were quick to congratulate New Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on his bail from the Supreme Court, yet they criticised my interim bail,” he said.
The AIP chief said both party leaders also hold sit-ins in Delhi for Kejriwal’s release but have never organised any protest for Kashmiris languishing in jails inside and outside Kashmir.
“They remained silent about my detention in Tihar,” There is solidarity with the Kashmiri people,” he said.
He condemned Mufti’s tenure as Chief Minister, particularly her actions in south Kashmir.
“The people of south Kashmir once trusted and voted for Mehbooba Mufti. However, once in power, she betrayed them, using pellets, bullets, and filling jails with the very people who supported her,” he said.