Engineer Rashid calls for political unity to restore statehood before forming Govt

On the eve of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly election results, Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) president and Baramulla MP Sheikh Abdul Rashid, also known as Engineer Rashid, urged mainstream political parties in the region to postpone government formation until the restoration of J&K’s statehood.

Rashid, currently on interim bail until October 12, emphasised the need for unity among political parties to demand the return of J&K's statehood before any steps are taken towards establishing a government. He expressed concerns about the limited powers that any future government would have, stating that the restoration of statehood should be a top priority.

In a press conference, Rashid pointed out that the INDIA alliance, despite its efforts, has been constrained by its limitations. He referred to the Congress’s silence on Article 370 after securing votes in Kashmir as a sign of these limitations.

His message to all political parties was clear: the time has come for them to unite and push for statehood restoration as the central issue in their political agenda. Rashid argued that this would not only restore some dignity to the people of J&K but also give a clearer direction to the newly elected representatives.

Rashid called for cooperation from the National Conference (NC), the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and other regional parties, suggesting that they present a united front to the Union government. He indicated that his party, the AIP, would support this demand for statehood irrespective of which party or coalition secures a majority in the Assembly. According to him, this approach would reflect the will of the voters in J&K and help restore their confidence and rights.

He further warned against hasty efforts at government formation, cautioning that doing so without the restoration of statehood would limit the powers of any elected government, reducing its effectiveness. He urged all elected representatives to collectively stand against forming a government until the Union government returns statehood to J&K. This, Rashid believes, would be a practical and symbolic move that aligns with the interests of the people of J&K.

The call for unity was not received positively by all. NC vice president Omar Abdullah criticised Rashid’s position, suggesting that he was acting in a manner that could benefit the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by extending the central rule in J&K. Abdullah indicated that Rashid’s recent trip to Delhi and his subsequent comments played into the BJP’s hands, which, according to Abdullah, would prefer to maintain control over J&K through central rule.

Rashid, who had been granted bail to campaign for the Assembly elections, expressed disappointment over the lack of action from regional parties over the past five years. He urged them to stand together now that elections were concluded and focus on restoring statehood.

Rashid raised concerns about the nomination of five members to the J&K Assembly by the Lieutenant Governor, questioning the constitutional and democratic integrity of such nominations. He pointed out that the Kashmiri Pandit community, like other Kashmiris, should have the opportunity to contest elections and not rely on nominations, which he viewed as contradictory to the government's claims of complete integration of J&K.