Called ‘BJP agent’, Engineer Rashid takes aim at Modi, Rahul — but doesn’t close doors on either

“If someone takes you to Tihar, and gives you food the way it is given to animals — they didn’t even give me parole on my aunt’s death — how is it possible to shake hands with them? Yes, if Modi is sincere about resolving the Kashmir issue with all the stakeholders, obviously we will participate,” he told the reporters.

Rashid spoke to the media after returning from Baramulla, where he attended a welcome rally organised by his Awami Ittehad Party (AIP). Earlier in the day, as he made his way to the rally venue after landing at Srinagar airport, he was welcomed by his supporters along the Srinagar-Baramulla highway.

The AIP had sought permission for a rally at the Baramulla Degree College ground but had to choose an alternative venue after being denied permission. The rally did not generate as much enthusiasm as the events that his son Abrar organised during his Lok Sabha poll campaign. The rally was much smaller than expected, with no more than 3,000 people at the venue.

“I have come from Jehama (the village neighbouring Rashid’s). We are around 100-150 people from our area here,” said Gulzar Ahmad Dar, a supporter of Rashid. His disappointment with the crowd was visible. “They (organisers) made a wrong decision. This rally should have been held in Mawar (Engineer’s village) and the crowd would have been much bigger.”

Not used to official protocol, Rashid seemed perturbed when his security detail suddenly whisked him away from the crowd through a safe route to the stage. As he stood up, he shouted, “Lakhanpur se Gilgit tak, Kashmir hamara hai (Kashmir is ours, from Lakhanpur to Gilgit).”

Accused over the past few days of being a “BJP proxy”, Rashid started his address by targeting Modi. “Today, Modi ji, Amit Shah ji, Rahul Gandhi, and all other leaders would have realised with whom the people of Kashmir stand. Today they may have realised that by incarcerating Engineer Rashid, the Hurriyat leader, and the youth of Kashmir In Tihar jail, the people of Kashmir can’t be suppressed. Today Narendra Modi may have realised that his slogan of ‘Naya Kashmir’, the drama of ‘Naya Kashmir’ has completely flopped. There is no ‘Naya Kashmir’, their ‘Naya Kashmir’ was Kashmir of blood, of UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act), The vote was not for ‘Naya Kashmir’, it was against the oppression.”

He added, “We are not seeking alms. If you don’t resolve the Kashmir issue, there will be a flood, the flood that will drown you all.”

Rashid also responded to mainstream leaders such as Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, saying “Engineer Rashid is not a sellout”. He said, “We have stood for a mission that is a hundred thousand times bigger than your motive of power. I don’t want to denigrate my sacrifices by answering your questions.”