‘AIP fighting polls to give true representation to people’

Srinagar, Sep 15: Member of Parliament Engineer Rashid Sunday said his Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) was contesting the upcoming Assembly polls not for power but to give true representation to the people of J&K.

In an interview with PTI here, Rashid said that the people of Kashmir were neither enemies of India nor agents of Pakistan and asserted that they cannot be herded like cattle.

“Government formation and alliances do not matter to me and my party. I am here to provide true representation to the people, especially in the aftermath of whatever happened on August 5, 2019 (abrogation of Article 370).

“People are identifying with the agenda of the AIP and it was evident from the results in north Kashmir Lok Sabha elections,” Rashid, who was released by a court on interim bail last week, told PTI.

The MP said that the unprecedented voter turnout in the Lok Sabha polls across Kashmir was a verdict against the August 5 move of the Centre to revoke J&K’s special status.

“The people of Kashmir have spoken and spoken very loud and clear. The politician now must be true representatives of this sentiment that was expressed through ballot and that is where we step in,” he said.

The AIP supremo said his party would strive to restore the special provisions of the constitution in respect of J&K and they were willing to take all lawful and democratic steps in this regard.

“The end word in a democratic set-up is the verdict of the people. We are before them and it is their turn to speak through their votes,” he said.

Rashid said he would not hesitate to take to the streets for a peaceful protest to demand restoration of Article 370.

The Member of Parliament expressed hope that he will get regular bail so that he can represent the people of his constituency in Parliament.

“I have been an MLA for two terms and probably have the distinction of being marshalled out the most because I speak the truth. I raise the issues of the people. I hope it is not repeated with me in Parliament and that they will allow me to speak for my people,” he said.

The firebrand politician, who is facing charges of terror funding, said the unfortunate part of the Kashmir issue was that people here have been labelled as either enemies of India or agents of Pakistan.

“I want to tell everyone that we are not enemies of India and we are also not agents of Pakistan. People of Kashmir are not cattle that can be herded to one side or the other,” he said.

Rashid said the Kashmir issue has to be resolved If India wants to take its deserved place in the global community.

“We have BJP leaders saying that people of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir want to join India. This might be true but how do we know it? Similarly, the grievances of people on this side are also to be addressed. The Kashmir issue cannot be brushed under the carpet by putting people like me or Hurriyat leaders in jail," he said.

No one is more desirous of peace than the people of Kashmir but it has to be with dignity and honour, Rashid said.

"All we are asking for is dialogue with all stakeholders. If talks can be held with Nagas and Taliban, why is the Centre shy of talking with the people of Jammu and Kashmir?" he said.

On the National Conference (NC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) calling him a proxy for the BJP, Rashid said he did not want to vitiate the atmosphere by responding to such allegations.

“I have spent the last five years in Tihar Jail and I wish even my enemies are not lodged in that place. The BJP government has not left any stone unturned to ensure that I remain in jail. I was lucky that (Delhi Chief Minister) Arvind Kejriwal got interim bail to campaign for Lok Sabha polls which set a precedent for me,” he said.

Arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in 2019 on charges related to terror funding, Rashid was granted interim bail on September 10 to campaign for the candidates of his Awami Itehad Party until October 2.