Irfan Tramboo
SRINAGAR, Sept 13: Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) chief and Member of Parliament from Baramulla, Engineer Abdul Rashid, today said that INIDA bloc announce they will ensure the restoration of Article 370, his party will withdraw its candidates from the Assembly elections.
“If they are sincere, and if Rahul Gandhi, Omar Abdullah, along with the INDI Alliance, announce that they will ensure the restoration of Article 370 and 35-A through Parliament, I will withdraw all our candidates from the Assembly elections. If they don’t, then they will never be able to do it,” he told in public rally at Anantnag.
Engg Rashid stated that over the last five years, leaders like Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti have failed to speak for the people, while the one who did was sent to Tihar Jail. He emphasized that neither party has a clear road map for the restoration of Article 370.
Continuing his scathing attack on the PDP and NC, Engineer Rashid, who is out on bail, added that if they had represented the people’s wishes and aspirations, he wouldn’t have needed to come out.
“I want to tell both Omar and Mehbooba that if they had truly voiced the people’s aspirations, these people wouldn’t be listening to me today.”
The MP also mentioned that he does not need any security cover, calling it a “conspiracy” by agencies and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
He said his primary goal is to restore Article 370 and ensure the “resolution of the Kashmir issue,” so that people no longer have to suffer.
“They must resolve the issue so that the sufferings end; people, including security personnel are no longer killed. We will ensure this issue is resolved,” he said.
Referring to the Lok Sabha elections, Er Rashid addressed accusations of vote division, pointing out that his opponent lost by a large margin.
“I received 5 lakh votes, Omar got 2.75 lakh votes, and PDP secured 28,000 votes. Those who lost are accusing me of dividing the votes, while as the winner, I should have made that claim.”
He noted that when Article 370 was revoked, prominent leaders were detained in SKICC or at their residences, while he was sent to Tihar Jail.
“They did not speak for the people or their issues. I was jailed because I raised my voice for the people. I know what it’s like to live in Tihar.”
Engineer Rashid also questioned why, if the PDP is part of the INDI Alliance, they are contesting elections separately. He referred to Congress as the “biggest enemy,” challenging Rahul Gandhi to announce their intention to restore Article 370 and urging the people to “rise and give Delhi a befitting reply.”
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