My winning margin testament to my innocence, says jailed Kashmiri leader Er Rashid

Srinagar, Jun 05 : Jailed political leader, now Member of Parliament from north Kashmir's Baramulla, Er. Rashid on Wednesday said that he will continue to fight for the rights of the people of J&K in a democratic manner, and will be "voice of the voiceless."

While thanking the people after defeating political giants including former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and People's Conference chief Sajad Gani Lone,  Rashid said that his margin of winning is a testament to his innocence in the case lodged against him.

The 57-year-old politician was imprisoned in 2019 after the National Investigation Agency charged him under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Rashid, a former two-time MLA, contested as the Awami Ittehad Party's (AIP) candidate. He founded the AIP in 2013.

Rashid, through his counsel Vikhyat Oberoi said that it was the people's victory and not his.

While Rashid's party has been seeking his release, it is uncertain of its future as he continues be behind the bars.

The party expectedly looks largely occupied with the thought to see their patron out of prison to regroup the party constituents and to chalk the future strategy, reported news agency GNS.

The party's spokesperson, Firdous Baba also denied the rumours claiming the incarcerated leader would side with the NDA or the INDIA Bloc.

“Reports attributing us to join any of the two alliances are untrue”, Baba said, adding, “No such thing is under consideration in the party as of now.”

Baba said that their first priority is to take Rashid out of prison and that "they are making all possible efforts to see an early release of him."

It's upto Rashid to take the call on party's future, said Baba.

Notably, Er. Rashid, who amassed a total of 472481 votes, defeated his nearest rival Omar Abdullah by a margin of 204142 votes. Similarly, Sajad Gani Lone who bagged a total of 173239, fell short of 299242 to the AIP patron in the results announced on Tuesday.