As Kashmir teeters on the edge of political uncertainty, Engineer Rasheed’s release from Tihar Jail has ignited a firestorm of defiance and hope with his characteristic candour. The two-time Langate lawmaker who is now Baramulla Lok Sabha member has launched a scathing critique of regional politicians and the BJP leaders, vowing to fight for the rights of Kashmiris and challenging the status quo, reports Humaira Nabi
On September 12, as Kashmir woke up to another day of political uncertainty, an aeroplane carrying Engineer Rasheed landed at Srinagar Airport. Stepping off the plane, Rasheed paused outside the airport, allowing reporters to capture the emotional moment. He and another party member knelt, their eyes brimming with tears.
“Mai apne qoum sai ye kehna chahta hoon ki aap himmat na harai, sachaiyae hamarai saath hai. (I want to tell my people not to lose hope. Facts are on our side,)” Rasheed said, his voice trembling. “No one – not even Narendra Modi or Amit Shah – can suppress our voices. We seek to be treated as humans, not as beggars for justice. We demand a solution to the Kashmir issue, which has claimed four to five lakh lives since 1947.”
Rasheed, granted interim bail by the Patiala House Court Delhi the previous night, had stirred Kashmir’s stagnant political scene with a Facebook Live session in which he made blunt statements against top regional politicians. The 62-minute live session became historic, breaking records as the most-watched video of any politician in Jammu and Kashmir ever since social media became life’s new replica. It drew over 30,000 live viewers and has crossed 25 lakh plays, already.
After spending over five years in Tihar Jail, Rasheed emerged, dressed in his signature grey Kurta Pajama and flip-flops, carrying a tote bag. “I pledge to fight Modi’s narrative of Naya Kashmir,” he shouted in his peculiar style, as chants of Tihar ka badla vote sai! (Revenge of Tihar through votes!) echoed in the background.
Engineer Rasheed’s release dominated prime-time shows across India, while the hashtag #EngineerRashid trended on social media for over 12 hours.
At the Press Club press conference in Delhi, Rasheed wore a black armband to protest the abrogation of Article 370. He used the platform to launch scathing attacks on political parties from Delhi to Kashmir, hitting left, right and centre. “I have a message for the BJP: we have no fight with you but do not sacrifice Kashmiris for your political agenda,” he said.
Rasheed also criticised the Congress party, saying it was “worse than the BJP”. He questioned the INDIA bloc’s stance on Article 370, saying: “Modi ji hits upfront, while the INDIA bloc hits from behind. They weakened Article 370; Modi buried it.”
Rasheed challenged Narendra Modi’s concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – the idea that the world is one family – asking if Kashmiris were included in Modi’s vision of 1.4 billion citizens. “I want to tell Modi ji, do not be afraid, do not try to intimidate us,” Rasheed said. “Your Naya Kashmir slogan has failed.”
Regional Parties
Rasheed criticised the Jammu Kashmir National Conference (NC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for their inaction while he was imprisoned. He targeted Omar Abdullah, mocking his attempt to garner votes in Ganderbal where Abdullah had filed his nomination for the Assembly elections. “Omar Abdullah probably does not understand what it truly means to stand up for the people,” Rasheed said. “If he had spoken out, he would not be in this position now.”
Rasheed also addressed Abdullah’s criticism of the BJP, which stemmed from a false social media notice instructing BJP workers to welcome Rasheed. He questioned Abdullah’s contradictory stance, pointing out that he had previously claimed he would not have contested the Baramulla seat if he knew Rasheed was running. Yet, Abdullah later shared an article suggesting that Rasheed’s potential victory in the Baramulla Lok Sabha seat would empower “secessionists”.
Rasheed highlighted Omar’s political “double standards”, questioning why his party was not part of the Gupkar Alliance while seeking support from Shiv Sena and approaching Arvind Kejriwal, who had backed the abrogation of Article 370. “Now they label me an agent of India,” Rasheed said, “while they, who have lived a life of privilege, claim to be the true leaders.”
Rasheed responded to Mehbooba Mufti’s accusation that he was a ‘BJP proxy’ and her suggestion that his party had surprising resources. She noted that despite her father, Mufti Sayeed, building a party for over 20 years, she struggled to field candidates. “Mufti Sayeed merely peddled Delhi’s propaganda in Kashmir,” Rasheed said. “Her tenure paved the way for the BJP’s entry into the region.”
Rasheed addressed Mehbooba directly. “If I am a BJP agent, then what does that make you, having lost the Anantnag seat? You have made Kashmir’s situation worse. While Yogi Adityanath used bulldozers for demolition in Uttar Pradesh, you did the same here.” Since his release last week, his simple question remains: “How can I be a BJP agent when I am their victim?”
Rasheed recalled his long-standing advocacy for celebrating June 6 as State Flag Day, a proposal that was never entertained since 2009. “I used to urge the authorities to declare a state holiday on June 6,” he said. “I was the one who would hoist (Jammu) Kashmir’s flag, while other leaders mocked me for it. I warned them about the BJP’s intentions.”
Rasheed questioned the absence of “autonomy” and “self-rule” from the JKNC and PDP manifestos, criticising their focus on restoring Article 370 and 35A. “What impact did these parties have on the region when they were in power?” he asked. “Did they genuinely utilise these provisions for Kashmir’s benefit? Every bill passed in Delhi was implemented here as well.” Rasheed added: “If they had truly used their authority, laws like the UAPA would never have been imposed on us.”
The Cause
Rasheed’s candid remarks have sparked a political storm in Kashmir, prompting accused leaders to maintain silence. Since his release, Rasheed has repeatedly stated his intention to unite people, rather than divide them, and is willing to engage with all stakeholders who genuinely seek to resolve Kashmir.
While attacking almost everybody, Rasheed claims he is committed to uniting the people. “If this is considered a crime, I am proud to commit it again and again,” he said. “I am willing to spend my entire life in Tihar jail for this cause. I will not exploit my people. Let the youth focus on their studies, businessmen on their trade; leave politics to us.”
Rasheed has consistently emphasised the need for a resolution to the Kashmir issue. He has stated that he will instruct his candidates to withdraw their nominations if Mehbooba and Omar present a comprehensive roadmap to restore Kashmir’s lost status.
Rasheed maintains that his struggle transcends a quest for power, asserting that the parliamentary seat holds no significance for him. His fight, he repeatedly said is “for the people”, contrasting it with Omar’s pursuit of power. “My struggle is far greater than what Omar Abdullah is fighting for,” he said. “There is a vast difference between spending five years in London and spending that time in Tihar jail, where prisoners struggle to access medical care.”
Rasheed also declared that his party is willing to support the INDIA alliance if they guarantee the restoration of Article 370 upon coming to power. “I will instruct each of my candidates to direct every vote towards the INDIA bloc,” he said. Besides, he expressed his willingness to engage in dialogue with Prime Minister Modi, “if he initiates talks with all stakeholders on the Kashmir dispute.”
Jail Anecdote
During the press conference, Rasheed shared personal anecdotes from his more than five-year imprisonment. “Although I am now breathing freely after more than five years, I will not find peace until all innocent Kashmiri prisoners are released,” he said, calling for an end to the incarceration of Kashmiris in Tihar Jail.
Detailing his arrest, Rasheed said his life changed on August 2, 2019, at 11:55 pm, when he was summoned to Delhi by the NIA and subsequently imprisoned in Tihar on August 9. “It was a new experience for me,” he said. “But when I saw dozens of Kashmiris there, I felt less alone in this hardship.”
Rasheed remembered his time in Cell No 4 with fellow inmate Altaf Fantosh, with whom he spent two years. “Altaf was diagnosed with cancer due to medical negligence,” he said. “His body was quietly flown back to Kashmir in the dead of night. His last words to me were: ‘hosakhai toh mere laash ghar pohcha daena’.” (If possible, let my dead body reach my home).
Rasheed also spoke about another prisoner, Altaf Baba, who has been awaiting surgical treatment for three years. He highlighted the plight of many Kashmiri prisoners who were denied parole, even when their loved ones passed away. He talked about women prisoners too.
Referring to Asiya Andrabi, Sobia, Nayla Nasreen, and Fahmeeda as “our Sitas”, Rasheed urged authorities to transfer these women to jails in Kashmir. “If you want to bridge the divide between Kashmir and Delhi, can you not find room for them in Kashmir’s prisons?”
Rasheed also revealed that he underwent medical surgery in March 2023 at Safdarjung Hospital while in prison, without his family being informed for twenty days. “I want to thank my cellmates, who cared for me in that cramped space. The toilet was right in front of where we ate, with no barrier between us. I spent a month in the hospital in pain and misery.”
Rasheed described his cell as “a mere space of 150 square feet, situated next to the graves of Afzal Guru and Maqbool Bhat. I endured it all for the people of Kashmir”.
Rasheed recounted being placed with a group of mentally unstable individuals, with an announcement instructing everyone to keep their distance from him. “This was done to coerce me into supporting a BJP proxy party in Baramullah,” he said. On January 18, 2024, just two days before the Ram Mandir inauguration, his means of communication with his family were cut. “They even resorted to cutting down on my one-time meal,” he alleged. Rashid also wrote his autobiography in jail, where he served as Chief Librarian.
Reactions to His Release
Rasheed’s release has garnered significant attention from politicians and opinion-makers, a rarity since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.
Reacting to Rashid’s release, Omar Abdullah accused the BJP of double standards, criticizing the party for opposing Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s release from jail to contest an election while welcoming Engineer Rashid’s release under similar circumstances, suggesting that “something is fishy”.
Omar Abdullah stated that the people of Baramulla had wasted their vote by choosing Engineer Rashid in the last elections. “He cannot go to Parliament and speak for them. The people of Baramulla wasted their vote in the last election,” he said. He noted that Rashid was released only for 20 days for the election and would have to return afterwards. “He cannot work as an MP. People should decide for themselves.”
Former lawmaker Imran Raza Ansari questioned Rashid’s intentions, criticising his actions as mere publicity stunts. Pointing to Rashid’s prostration at airport, Imran said, “It was orchestrated for attention. He waited for reporters before prostrating.” Ansari further accused Rashid of being on a mission to divide votes, claiming that his 20-day public appearance was aimed at fulfilling a pre-planned agenda, set by external influences.
Ram Madhav, National Executive RSS, quoted Rashid’s speech on X, saying: “This rank separatist, jailed for five years under UAPA for anti-India activities, is out on bail to further vitiate Valley politics. His language, anti-Modi rants, and demands to restore Article 370 and free terrorists from jail are no different from what Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti, or others like Lone of NC, PDP, or PC – the Gupkar Gang – are saying. He wants to defeat Modi’s dream of Naya Kashmir. We accept the challenge. Naya Kashmir’s march will go on unrelenting.”
Sandeep Mawa, Founder of Jammu and Kashmir Reconciliation Front and a staunch BJP supporter, garlanded Rasheed in Srinagar, sparking raised eyebrows. “For a bigger goal, sometimes North and South poles have to unite,” Mawa wrote on his Facebook page.
Most JKNC leaders, including Omar Abdullah, made sceptical statements on Rasheed’s release. However, Member of Parliament and National Conference leader Aga Ruhullah reacted. “The release of Engineer Rashid will not impact our party, but it should be seen as an addition to the broader fight against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP),” he wrote. “If Engineer Rashid and his party come together to fight against the might of the BJP, against the onslaught we have faced, without compromising on any name or purpose, it will be an addition to the fight, not a challenge.”
Another Dynasty?
While Rasheed was in jail, his sons took charge of his political campaign, making arrangements and appealing emotionally to the people of North Kashmir for their father’s release. His sons, Abrar and Asrar, both students, led the effort, vowing to leave politics once their father won the elections.
Rasheed had previously declared at a gathering at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi, that he would never allow his sons to enter politics.
In a live Facebook session, he claimed he was unaware that his son had been campaigning for him during the parliamentary elections. “He is supposed to be in college. I would have never allowed it,” Rasheed remarked. However, following his release, his elder son, Abrar, was seen actively participating in political rallies and speaking to reporters about the party’s agenda.
Earlier, there was speculation that Abrar, a postgraduate student, might contest from their home constituency in Langate. However, it is Rasheed’s younger brother, Khurshid Ahmad Sheikh, who has officially filed his nomination for the Langate seat in the Kupwara district. Khurshid followed his elder brother’s footsteps by resigning from the education department to join politics. He is now set to represent the family in the elections and is likely to win.
Since his release from jail, Rasheed has been vocal about the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. Notably, however, the issue isn’t addressed in his party’s manifesto, unlike many other political parties that have included it in their election manifestos. He spent the first day speaking to a thin but emotionally charged rally in Baramulla before addressing a news conference. Now, he is touring South Kashmir which goes to polls in the first phase on September 18. He is being received well.
Rasheed’s Rise
Rasheed entered politics in 2008, winning the Assembly election from Langate. Before this, he worked as a junior engineer in the Roads and Buildings Department. In his early 20s, Rasheed worked as a porter for the Army, clearing live mines to ensure safe passage. In 2005, militants kidnapped him in Sopore for refusing to hand over construction materials. A year later, security forces detained him on charges of supporting militancy. He claimed to have paid a bribe of Rs 30,000 and three cell phones to avoid getting charged under the Public Safety Act (PSA).
Rasheed resigned from his government job to pursue politics. As an MLA, he addressed public issues often ignored by other leaders. He successfully lobbied for the removal of Army camps and checkpoints in Langate, facilitating easy movement for locals.
His unique approach to public meetings, regular visits to remote villages, leading protests against human rights violations, and engagement with visiting groups earned him a reputation as a formidable leader in Langate.
Rasheed won the Langate Assembly election again in 2014 and later founded the Awami Ittehad Party (AIP). Although the party has participated in elections and maintains a regional presence, it lacks formal recognition from the Election Commission of India. As a result, affiliated leaders are contesting the current Assembly elections as independents, allowing them to support any party without formal membership and avoiding the constraints of the anti-defection law. The party is contesting nearly 50 seats, including eight in the Jammu region. In the Lok Sabha elections, Engineer had edge over all others in 14 of the 18 assembly segments of Baramulla berth.
Rasheed’s recent parliamentary election win from Tihar prison, defeating Omar and Sajad Lone by a few lakh votes, reflects his significant influence in North Kashmir. Will this influence remain in the north and move towards the South and Central Kashmir? Will he emerge the vote divider, a kingmaker or a unifier as he repeatedly asserts? Has Rasheed’s prolonged arrest led him to chase the CEO’s position of a disempowered Jammu and Kashmir? Is he working for himself or the BJP as his rivals allege? Does he know all the candidates who are contesting the assembly election in his name?
All these questions will be addressed once the 90-elected lawmakers start the huddle for making the government a disempowered hung house in the second week of October 2024. Wait and watch.
Post Script
A few days after his release, Engineer Rasheed, in an interesting development announced that his party will back baned Jamaat-e-Islami (JEI) backed candidates for the current assembly polls. The statement came after a joint meeting was held in which the AIP delegation, led by AIP president Engineer Rashid and Chief Spokesperson Inam Un Nabi, and the JEI delegation, led by Ghulam Qadir Wani. The two parties have agreed that AIP would support JEI-backed candidates in Kulgam and Pulwama. While JEI will support AIP candidates across Kashmir. In areas where both AIP and JEI have fielded candidates, the alliance has agreed to a “friendly contest”.
Earlier in his first interview, Rasheed had refuted talking about JEI stating that, “I’ve to speak to the people from Jamat as well but I’ll do that in private”.
Reacting to the alliance JKNC President Farooq Abdullah said that it was a strategy to loot and divide us. “Why was Engineer Rashid released for 20 days? If he had to be released, he should have been released completely. People are realising who these people are. This is a strategy to dishonour our mothers and sisters,” Farooq said.
