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This is an archive article published on September 11, 2024

Engineer Rashid walks out, dismisses ‘BJP proxy’ tag; party dubs him ‘rank separatist’

Both seem keen to underline the distance between them, day after interim bail to Engineer Rashid sets off allegations of a “deal” with Centre.

Rashid walks out, dismisses ‘BJP proxy’ tag; party dubs him ‘rank separatist’ Engineer RashidEngineer Rashid

“How can a man who has been the victim of the BJP’s politics be its proxy?” asked Engineer Rashid, in one of his first remarks Wednesday as he stepped out of Tihar Jail, where he has been lodged in a case of alleged terror funding since 2019, before vowing to fight Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s narrative of “Naya Kashmir”.

The reaction from the BJP’s J&K election in-charge, Ram Madhav, was swift, dismissing Rashid as a “rank separatist”, out to “vitiate” politics in the Valley.

The day after Rashid was granted interim bail to campaign for the J&K Assembly elections, which his Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) is contesting, both he and the BJP seemed keen to underline that there was nothing common between them.

Rashid recently won the Lok Sabha elections from Baramulla, contesting from behind bars as an Independent. He could not get bail then and was allowed out only to take oath as an MP. The circumstances of his release now, ahead of the keenly fought J&K polls, have led both the main regional parties of Kashmir, the National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party, to allege a deal between Rashid and the BJP-led Centre.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Rashid, who will head for Srinagar Thursday morning, said: “The best thing in a democracy is to go to the people, ask the people what they want… And if the BJP has a better solution than self-determination for Kashmir, they should tell us. We will think about it.”

Dismissing allegations that he would be a puppet, Rashid said: “We will fight through peaceful political means. We’re not puppets. We will approach civil society and we will fight using the ambit of the law.”

The MP said he did not desire government formation as much as bringing “the fight from Kashmir to Delhi”. “Our MLAs will come to Delhi and hold peaceful protests. We will become ambassadors of Kashmir and tell people what we go through every day… Ask Modiji what solution they have.”

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Criticising the abrogation of Article 370 and subsequent measures by the Modi government, Rashid said: “Aapne Union territory bana diya. Demote kar diya hum ko (You made us a Union territory, demoted us from a state).”

Addressing a press conference after his release, he said: “I want to say something to Amit Shah and Modi. You never listen to Kashmiris. Don’t label us as Pakistanis, treat us as humans… Why are you afraid of speaking to us?” Urging PM Modi to let him speak in Parliament as well, Rashid added: “Daro mat, darao mat (Don’t be scared, and don’t scare us).”

Rashid said the BJP should not “sacrifice” Kashmiris for his political agenda. “We are not enemies of India, I want this country to prosper. I also request my Kashmiri Pandit brothers to please come back. I will protect them. Kashmir is theirs as much as it is ours.”

In his post on X reacting to Rashid’s comments, Ram Madhav wrote: “This rank separatist, in jail for last 5 years under UAPA for indulging in anti-India activities, is out on bail to further vitiate Valley politics. Look at (the) language… anti-Modi rants, restoring Art 370, freeing terrorists from jails…”

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He “accepts the challenge” given to them by Rashid, Madhav added. “He wants to defeat Modi’s dream of Naya Kashmir. Naya Kashmir’s March will go on unrelenting.”

In his hour-long press conference, Rashid also targeted the Congress, accusing its governments of having “hollowed out” Article 370 before the BJP came to power.

“INDIA alliance peeche se maar rahe hain. Kam se kam Modiji saamne se maarte hain (INDIA bloc stabs you from the back. At least Modiji strikes from the front),” he said.

 

Nirbhay Thakur is a Senior Correspondent with The Indian Express who primarily covers district courts in Delhi and has reported on the trials of many high-profile cases since 2023. Professional Background Education: Nirbhay is an economics graduate from Delhi University. Beats: His reporting spans the trial courts, and he occasionally interviews ambassadors and has a keen interest in doing data stories. Specializations: He has a specific interest in data stories related to courts. Core Strength: Nirbhay is known for tracking long-running legal sagas and providing meticulous updates on high-profile criminal trials. Recent notable articles In 2025, he has written long form articles and two investigations. Along with breaking many court stories, he has also done various exclusive stories. 1) A long form on Surender Koli, accused in the Nithari serial killings of 2006. He was acquitted after spending 2 decades in jail. was a branded man. Deemed the “cannibal" who allegedly lured children to his employer’s house in Noida, murdered them, and “ate their flesh” – his actions cited were cited as evidence of human depravity at its worst. However, the SC acquitted him finding various lapses in the investigation. The Indian Express spoke to his lawyers and traced the 2 decades journey.  2) For decades, the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has been at the forefront of the Government’s national rankings, placed at No. 2 over the past two years alone. It has also been the crucible of campus activism, its protests often spilling into national debates, its student leaders going on to become the faces and voices of political parties of all hues and thoughts. The Indian Express looked at all court cases spanning over two decades and did an investigation. 3) Investigation on the 700 Delhi riots cases. The Indian Express found that in 17 of 93 acquittals (which amounted to 85% of the decided cases) in Delhi riots cases, courts red-flag ‘fabricated’ evidence and pulled up the police. Signature Style Nirbhay’s writing is characterized by its procedural depth. He excels at summarizing 400-page chargesheets and complex court orders into digestible news for the general public. X (Twitter): @Nirbhaya99 ... Read More

Naveed Iqbal is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, and reports from Jammu and Kashmir. With a career spanning over 15 years in frontline journalism, Naveed provides authoritative reporting on the region’s transition, governance, and the socio-political implications of national policies. Expertise Regional Specialization: Based in the Srinagar and New Delhi bureaus, Naveed has spent over a decade documenting the unique challenges of Jammu and Kashmir. Her reporting is distinguished by deep contextual knowledge of the region's post-Article 370, statehood debates, and local electoral politics. Key Coverage Beats: Her extensive body of work covers: Politics & Governance: Tracking the National Conference (NC), PDP, and BJP dynamics, including in-depth coverage of J&K’s first Assembly sessions and Rajya Sabha polls following the reorganization of the state. Internal Security & Justice: Providing rigorous reporting on counter-insurgency operations, terror module investigations, and judicial developments involving political detainees and constitutional rights. Education & Minority Affairs: Highlighting systemic issues such as quota rows in J&K, public service commission reforms, and the challenges faced by minority communities. ... Read More

 

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