Out on two-day parole to attend Parliament, Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid met Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari to “discuss key infrastructure projects” of his parliamentary constituency, his Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) said Friday. AIP spokesperson Inam-un-Nabi told The Indian Express that Rashid met Gadkari in his Parliament chambers. “He discussed the infrastructure projects of Karnah, Keran, Machil and Gurez” with Gadkari, the spokesperson said. The meeting comes at a time when the AIP has been taking potshots at J-K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and several key BJP ministers, including Gadkari. Rashid’s meeting with Gadkari wasn’t political in nature, AIP spokesperson Nabi said. The meeting was for “the development of his constituency. He didn't meet for politics”, Nabi said. “The people of his constituency remain cut-off for six months. Who else will ask for road tunnels to these areas?” Nabi asked. The spokesperson said the meeting focussed on “key infrastructure demands for the development” of north Kashmir, saying it would “improve socio-economic conditions of the people and strengthen national integration”. During the discussion, Rashid “strongly advocated for the construction of the Karnah, Machil, and Gurez Tunnels, stressing their critical importance as these regions remain cut off from the rest of the country for nearly six months every year due to heavy snowfall,” Nabi said in a statement. “Additionally, he highlighted the need for Lolab-Bandipora road connectivity, linking the Lolab Valley with Bandipora district, as well as the Takipora Lolab-Sopore road, which would enhance regional connectivity and facilitate better trade and transport,” the statement said. According to the statement, Gadkari told Rashid that the process for the Karnah tunnel had already begun and assured him that other proposed tunnels and roads would also be taken up with the Defence Ministry for further consideration. The statement said that Rashid also demanded Rs 200 crore to upgrade national highways and other road infrastructure in north Kashmir. The Delhi High Court on Monday granted two-day parole to Rashid, who is in jail in an alleged terror funding case by the NIA, to attend Parliament and participate in the ongoing Budget Session, on Tuesday and Thursday. The conditions of the parole were that he could not use a cellphone or the internet, and could not speak to the media or anyone else except those required in his role as an MP.
