Srinagar, Apr 5 : In a strongly worded speech delivered in Parliament, jailed Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) president and MP from Baramulla, Er Rashid, rejected Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s claim that the “sky is completely clear” in the region. Speaking from the floor of the House, Er Rashid said Kashmir continues to be gripped by uncertainty, injustice, and political alienation, and only a sincere and inclusive dialogue could dispel the prevailing darkness.
Addressing Prime Minister Narendra Modi directly—who is scheduled to visit the Valley for the inauguration of the Katra-Baramulla railway line—Er Rashid welcomed the move but expressed concern that governance and people’s rights must not be neglected due to his incarceration.
“I welcome the Prime Minister’s visit to inaugurate the railway line. But while I remain in jail, I urge him—please take care of my people. My constituency spans 18 assembly segments. They must not be ignored,” Er Rashid said in an emotional appeal.
He cautioned the government against drawing a rosy picture of normalcy in Kashmir, saying such assertions ignore the ground realities. “When the Chief Minister says the sky is clear, I must say, it is not. Dark clouds still loom large over Kashmir,” he said, calling the claim a misrepresentation of public sentiment.
Er Rashid urged the political leadership in New Delhi and Srinagar, including the bureaucracy, to ensure that the concerns of North Kashmir are addressed, especially in his absence. He warned that the people’s voices must not be silenced or sidelined simply because their elected representative is behind bars.
He called on PM Modi to listen sincerely to the people of Kashmir, and to recognize their political, social, religious, and human rights. “Kashmir’s pain cannot be hidden behind photo-ops and speeches. Please don’t let the people feel abandoned,” he asserted.[KNT]
