Youth walks barefoot for 18 hours to support AIP candidate Er Rashid

Pulwama, May 16: In an extraordinary display of commitment, Mudasir Thoker, a youth from south Kashmir’s Shopian district, walked barefoot for 18 hours to join the campaign trail for his preferred leader, Er Sheikh Abdul Rashid, the Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) candidate for the Baramulla constituency.
Mudasir, a resident of Ramnagar village in Shopian and a doctoral student in English began his journey at 7:00 am on Wednesday.
He arrived in the Narbal area of the Baramulla constituency by Thursday afternoon, covering the entire distance barefoot.
Speaking to Rising Kashmir over the phone, Mudasir said that Er Rashid is “Kashmir’s own leader and voice”.
He recounted a pivotal moment in 2016 when Er Rashid assisted him and other aspirants who were in a crisis after protesting against a “recruitment scam”.
Rashid’s intervention left a lasting impression on Mudasir, inspiring his steadfast support. “Er Rashid helped us out when we were in need and nobody bothered for us,” Mudasir said, adding that the former MLA always helped common people, irrespective of their political lineage and constituencies.
“Such leaders are very rare in Kashmir, and he needs our support now more than ever,” he added.
Mudasir believes his act of solidarity will energise and inspire other young supporters to intensify their campaign efforts.
Upon his arrival in Baramulla, he was warmly welcomed by Er Rashid’s supporters, who appreciated his dedication. “This will boost the morale of other youth campaigning for Er Rashid,” he said.
Thoker said his unwavering support for his leader will continue beyond this poll campaign.
Er Rashid, the incarcerated AIP leader, has garnered substantial grassroots support after his son started campaigning for him. He was arrested by NIA in August of 2019 and later booked under UAPA.