SRINAGAR: Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) president and Member of Parliament from Baramulla, Er Rashid, in parliament dismissed Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s assertion that the “sky is completely clear” in the region. He countered that “dark clouds of injustice, uncertainty and alienation” continue to hover over Kashmir, warning that only meaningful political dialogue could dispel them.
Er Rashid, who continues to remain in jail, used the floor of the House to make an appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the latter’s upcoming visit to the Valley for the inauguration of the Katra-Baramulla railway line.
“I welcome this development initiative,” he said, “but I also plead with the Prime Minister to not forget my people. My constituency includes 18 assembly segments. They must not be deprived of their rights just because their elected representative is behind bars.”
Rejecting what he described as a misleading narrative of normalcy, Er Rashid said, “The sky is not clear. It is filled with dark clouds. Please address this darkness too.”
He urged both the central and union territory leadership, including bureaucratic and political stakeholders from Srinagar to Delhi, to ensure that the grievances of North Kashmir are not overlooked. His appeal came with a reminder that incarceration should not translate into political invisibility for his constituents.
Calling for a shift from rhetoric to resolution, the AIP chief stated, “People of Kashmir must be heard. Development cannot be a substitute for dignity, rights and justice. Please respect our political, religious, social and human rights.”
