He made these remarks in an exclusive interview with KNS Editor in Chief Mohd Aslam Bhat minutes before presenting himself to Tihar Jail authorities after his interim bail expired. Engineer Rashid addressed accusations surrounding his temporary freedom, vote division and his party prospects.
Rashid denounced claims that he was released to sway votes, reaffirming, “We will live for our people. We will die for our people.”
He stressed his focus on resolving J&K’s issues, emphasizing, “Whether it’s about Article 370, 35A, political prisoners, or the Kashmir issue, the solution is important for me.” Rashid’s message to his supporters is: “Be strong, we will fight and win.”
Rashid responded to speculation surrounding his recent temporary release, which some alleged was a strategy to sway votes.
He denounced these claims, stating, “I congratulate those who said that. They should be ashamed that they remained silent for 5.5 years.” He added, “Their words are like the sky being blown away… We will live for our people. We will die for our people.”
He highlighted his commitment to resolving the issues faced by the people of J&K, emphasizing that despite his incarceration, he would always stand by them. “Whether it is about 370, 35A, political prisoners, or the Kashmir issue, the solution is important for me,” Rashid affirmed. “That is my fault; that is the whole story, that is why I am in jail.”
In response to accusations that his involvement in recent elections served to divide votes, Rashid retorted, “After 20 days of the election campaigning, you say I divided the vote, and no major party came to the election… I have no answer for them. I will answer for my people.”
Reflecting on past elections, he said, “In 2019, only 27,000 votes were cast in the parliament elections… They got votes by giving that slogan.” Rashid noted that he had limited time and resources for the election, as his party, AIP, was unregistered and lacked a common symbol. “Despite that, when you see the vote share, we have our second or third number after NC. For a few days of party, we are very satisfied. We got a very good vote share.”
He addressed the rumors surrounding his legal battles and the influence of political forces, remarking, “When I got interim bail, they made noise. Why did I get interim bail? When the bail was given by the court, within the circle of law, today the same law is putting me back in jail.” Rashid compared his situation to other political figures, noting, “When Kejriwal got bail, they gave it to Kejriwal with congratulations. It’s a pity they want to fool Kashmiris.”
Following his release, Rashid said he visited several areas within his parliamentary constituency, focusing on issues affecting the people rather than on political gain. “I said everywhere that after the election, my politics is over… People have to work. I am a representative of people and a heartbeat of their hearts.”
He added that he held review meetings with local officials to address pressing local concerns. “You can ask them… I have been in meetings, meetings with the Commissioners, meetings with the Deputy Commissioner,” he explained, emphasizing his focus on public welfare.
Rashid’s message to his supporters in the last leg of the interview is: “Don’t worry, I am loyal to the people of J&K. I will fight for my rights, whether I am in Tihar or outside Tihar. The truth is with us… Be strong, we will fight and win.” (KNS).
