Several Awami Ittihad Party leaders and activists were detained as they held a hunger strike protesting against the alleged mistreatment of Rashid in the Tihar jail
Leaders and supporters of the Awami Ittihad Party (AIP) observed a hunger strike at the party office in Srinagar on Friday after authorities refused permission for the same at Press Colony.
The party strongly condemned the decision to block a peaceful demonstration in support of Engineer Rashid, the jailed MP from Baramulla, who began an indefinite hunger strike on Friday in Tihar Jail against alleged mistreatment.
Some AIP leaders and activists including senior members Firdouse Ahmad Baba, Adil Nazir Khan, Ajaz Ahmad Lone, Showkat Pandit, Tahir Mir, Bashir Mir, Lateef Naikoo, Altaf Dar, Syed Uzair and Anantnag District President Aqib Mushtaq were detained.
Rashid’s son, Abrar Rashid, was also among those taken into custody.
A similar event in Jammu, led by Ishtiyaq Qadri, General Secretary Prince Parveez, Advocate Javeed Hubbi, and Ajaz Yousuf, was also denied permission by the administration.
AIP Chief Spokesperson Inam Un Nabi criticised the denial of the permission to hold a peaceful protest. “Democracy thrives on dialogue and dissent, not repression,’’ he said. “Silencing voices through force sets a dangerous precedent against democratic values.”
He said Rashid’s decision to sit on a hunger strike is a desperate but brave stand against injustice.
“The government must address his concerns rather than ignore the legitimate demands of an elected representative,” he said.
Rashid’s brother and MLA Khursheed Ahmad Sheikh said the trial court has not ruled on Rashid’s bail.
“We approached the High Court, but justice remains elusive,’’ he said. “We requested permission to protest at Pratap Park, but it was denied.”
He said AIP leaders and workers were being arrested. “We will submit a fresh application asking for an alternative location and will continue our protest,” he said.
Khursheed Ahmad also questioned Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s ‘inaction’. “He won 45 seats claiming to represent the suppressed voices of the people, yet he is silent on this issue,” he said.
Rashid was arrested by the NIA in 2019 on charges of money laundering and ever since he has been lodged in jail. He successfully contested the Lok Sabha elections from jail defeating Abdullah and Sajad Lone of the People’s Conference.
Source: PTI and The Week