Chairman of Awami Ithad Party and
MLA Langate Er Rasheed talks in detail about pros and cons of Kashmir issue and
forthcoming Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir in an exclusive interview
to Precious Kashmir Correspondent Junaid Rather.
Precious Kashmir: Tell us
something about your background?
Er Rasheed: I was working as an
engineer in J&K Projects Construction Corporation (JKPCC). I constructed
some important projects like Sopore Bridge, Degree College Handwara and other
big projects. I was also a social worker and used to write for Chattan
newspaper before becoming an MLA. I was also writing regularly for English
newspapers but mostly I was contributing to Urdu publications.
Precious Kashmir: What made
you to join politics?
Er Rasheed: It was the turmoil of
past 30 years especially from 1990 to 2008 in my area that forced me to join
politics. Militancy had disturbed things everywhere and especially in my constituency
where people were subjected to forced labor for 13 years from 1990 to 2013.
There were many atrocities; there was no accountability and transparency. Just
as a conscience bearing citizen I choose to raise my voice against it and in
return faced the music from the Army. I was thrown out of my home three to four
times by my parents as they feared that Army reprisal. I used to take Army head
on whenever there was a crisis. So ultimately it was in 2003 when I launched a
movement against the forced labor which we then called as “Convoy Duty”. Some
eight to 12 persons from every village were forced to go with army and work for
24 hours. We were not paid anything and we had to face all sorts of humiliation
and atrocities. Ultimately on Feb 3, 2003, a boy, Shabir Ahmad Peer,
whose brother was a militant was tortured to death by the Army and dubbed as
militant. But people couldn’t muster courage to bury his body. I led a
successful moment that day which turned great day, glorious day for the people
of my constituency. That day the forced labor ended, we had an agreement with
the government -civil and army administration. But trouble for me started and
just two years later I was arrested by the police and I was taken to Cargo (SOG
Headquarters) where I was subjected to third degree torture. I was asked to pay
bribe and had to arrange around Rs 1.5 lakhs in total after selling my land. I
had to pay bribe to the police officers to get myself out. The problem didn’t
end there and in 2005 and 2006 I was lodged in Central Jail, CIK Humamha and in
Raj Bagh Police station.
After my release, Department (JKPCC)
had suspended me as I was the honest engineer and they were already in search
of some excuse. So I had to face financial problems. I had to face pressure
from my family also. In 2007 and 2008 police again harassed me and so did Army.
I was asked to give three mobile phones to police at Rajbagh as bribe. They
told me that I had to be booked under PSA as I had already been in jail. So I
had to give three mobile phones and around Rs 30,000 to 40,000 in cash to save
my skin. By that time elections came and I decided to contest election and just
a few days before the polls I submitted my resignation after talking to a few
people. On November 13 I filed my nomination and elections were held on
November 27. I had just 14 or 15 days to campaign and I thank God my people
supported me that is how I joined politics.
Precious Kashmir: From MLA to
Awami Itehad Party chief. How it happened?
Er Rasheed: I had never visited
Assembly in my life till I became an MLA. Neither had I voted till 27 or 28
November. I exercised my franchise for the first time in 2008. I had no idea of
things. But I had an idea of writing and the writing came from inside as I had
seen people suffering in villages which encouraged me to write something. So
when I became MLA I just had idea through reading and writing. I met Mufti
Sayeed Sahib just three four days after I became MLA and later I met Omar
Abdullah.
When Rahul Ghandhi visited Wanpoo
ahead of Parliament elections in 2009 Omar Abdullah spoke to me over phone. He
asked me to support Rahul Gandhi as he had assured Omar that Congress would
resolve the Kashmir issue if it retains power. I thought that if he means
business then we must support him because ultimately it is the people in the
corridors of the power who can resolve the things even at least within the
constitution of India. They can give something to the Kashmiris within the
internal spectrum.
I supported him and for one and a
half year it seemed to me that he is on the right path. As the time passed I
realized that they too are not sincere and what they say they don’t mean it and
I felt disappointed. In 2010 I saw my kids dying at roads and nobody was even
registering an FIR I felt helpless. Ultimately things changed when Afzal Guru’s
resolution came into Assembly as I got clues from right left and centre that India
will hang Afzal, they just wanted to set an example. I raised my voice to seek
clemency for Afzal. Tamil Nadu assembly passing a resolution to seek
clemency for Tamlians involved in Rajiv Gandhi murder case encouraged me. I
tried my best. I met Omar Abdullah, I met Mufti Saheb and told them that let
Assembly pass a resolution so that Afzal is not hanged but both the parties let
me down. I was dragged in the assembly and my voice was muzzled.
I know many people in jail who even
today are languishing there. I tried my best. Mufti Sahib asked me that he
would support my resolution if I join PDP. I promised him that I will announce
my decision on the floor of house once you support the resolution but
unfortunately next day he called me saying that his party cannot support my
resolution. So I had no option left. I preferred to fight alone and at the end
of the day if you rightly remember in 2010 I wrote two letters to Omar Abdullah
and Mehbooba Mufti asking them to join hands for the larger interest of Kashmiris-
Let our cause not get divided. Let you rectify your mistakes. Let us move
collectively so that we can contribute, but unfortunately they let me down. The
things reached its peak when Afzal was hanged. I was detained in Handwara
police station for nine days. After I was released I again tried that NC and
PDP and some other forces should come forward to at least seek the return of
Afzal’s mortal remains but they just played politics over the issue.
Either I had to join them and be
part of their dirty politics or I had to form a group. It is not I (Engineer
Rashid) but some other educated people who really wanted to do something for
Kashmiris. I am just a part of it. May be tomorrow someone else would be
heading Awami Itihaad Party. It is not my party. It is people’s party it is a
party of Kashmiris. Everybody is welcome to join the politics and I will love
if somebody else having a good talent than me will head the organization.
Precious Kashmir: What is
AIP’s manifesto?
Er Rasheed: Manifesto of our party
is that we will work hard for the resolution of the Kashmir issue without
exploiting people in the name of autonomy and self rule. We will tell India and
Pakistan that don’t take us for-granted. We will not try to dilute by saying
autonomy. Let us first realize that till India doesn’t accept Kashmir as an
issue we will reach nowhere. If you demand 100 percent they will give you 20
percent. We have to remain firm on our stand to ensure that we are able to
strike a deal with New Delhi. We firmly believed that we should try to
protect the human rights of Kashmiri people especially I can give you the
example, in my constituency not even a single PSA has been slapped during the
past five years. Compare my constituency it with other constituencies you will
see how many youth have been booked under PSA. We believe that till
Kashmir issue is resolved Kashmiris have right to live a dignified life.
My third point is governance. No one
knows how long Kashmir issue would keep on lingering. If Kashmiris get united
it may get resolved earlier but if we remain divided India will take us
for granted so will Pakistan though Pakistan is well wisher of Kashmiris but
they have their compulsions. But till then Kashmiris have a right to get better
governance, good roads and an accountable system.
Our another point is that VIP
culture should end. Whatever I have done in Langate I promise I will
repeat it everywhere.
Precious Kashmir: There were reports
that AIP was planning to merge with Aam Aadmi Party, what happened to
that?
Er Rasheed: No, No it was absolutely
false I have cleared that already.
Precious Kashmir: Newspapers reports
said that Arvind Kejriwal is your friend and you will talk to him?
Er Rasheed: I have met Arvind and
his team including Manish Jasodiya and others. I met Manish even after they
formed a government in New Delhi. I had an appointment with Arvind but I
couldn’t meet him as I got trapped in some traffic jam. I have met Arvind
before he took over as the chief minister but the problem in Jammu and Kashmir
is unique here we have problems related to political dispute, political issues.
They have their problems related to governance so there is lot of difference
between them and us. I wanted that they should have Kashmir policy and give some
way out us so that we can resolve the Kashmir issue. But unfortunately I feel
that they have not taken any decision in this regard. I respect Arvind but I
don’t think we need to copy anybody. I love the AAP style. They sat on a
dharna to get two police officials shifted and they failed the Aam Admi’s
credibility in the name of giving honor to Aam Admi has got a question mark .
When you can’t transfer an SHO it is a trouble. You check my record 43 dharnas
in the past five year, I got two SHOs one DYsP transferred, One Army major
booked in Baramulla. He was put in jail for two and a half hours I got
three Army camps removed. I got a road opened after 19 years. I got an
assistant commissioner shifted from that place within two or three hours it was
all due to we staging dharnas.
Precious Kashmir: Power corrupts?
What is your take?
Er Rasheed: Power corrupts but
anybody having a conscience power is worship and I think on those lines. I pray
to Allah that he never turns me corrupt. Take my life but don’t take my
consciousness. It is my prayer to Almighty.
Precious Kashmir: As elections are
close what is your party’s strength?
Er Rasheed: My strength is my
commitment, my conviction, ideology, sincerity and my people who I feel have
been let down by everybody. They should also think that how to get out of
it. They can’t keep on blaming National Conference and PDP for their woes and
at the end vote for them. People have to change if they want to live a
dignified life. We want to give an alternative platform to people. Its up to
people to accept or reject us.
Precious Kashmir: Politicians often
say whatever you do you do it for media coverage. Is it true?
Er Rasheed: What is wrong in it? I
want my views to reach out to people. Ultimately media is the medium to reach
out to people. So if I do a good thing and media gives it coverage what is
wrong in it? I thank media for giving coverage to me for good reasons. If I am
doing bad things media would expose me and if I am doing well they are highlighting
it.
Precious Kashmir: What is your take
on AFSPA?
Er Rasheed: I sometimes think it is
useless to raise hue and cry over revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers
Act (AFSPA) as New Delhi won’t revoke it till Kashmir issue is resolved. But to
control human rights violations AFSPA has to go.
Precious Kashmir: Which constituency
would you be contesting from in coming elections? There were rumors that you
will contest from Sopore?
Er Rasheed: My party will decide
from where I will contest but I would love to contest from Sopore. Now I am not
a free man I am bound by the party rules. Our rules are defined, one man one
post. To contest the forthcoming assembly elections or not would be my party’s
decision. I would love to campaign for my party.
Personally I would love to be a MLA
than a party leader. I love the people of Kashmir as everyone here has suffered
a lot and Kashmiris deserve good MLAs who can represent their sentiments
and aspirations all along their aspirations.
Precious Kashmir: How AIP sees
Army’s recent decision on Pathribal case?
Er Rasheed: It is unfortunate
and India is getting exposed itself. The security agencies and others are
making us feel that Kashmiris can’t be Indians.
Precious Kashmir: Some people say
you are a creation of intelligence agencies?
Er Rasheed: Wonderful (laughs) let
them say I am creation of God.
Precious Kashmir: Does it bother
Engineer Rashid?
Er Rasheed: Why should it
bother me? They have no job what else can they say. People of Kashmir know that
it I was the only man who fought for Afzal Guru and who takes to streets every
now and then to protest against the human rights a violation. I was the one who
reached Kishtwar I don’t need anybody’s certificate. For those who say I am the
creation of intelligence let them disclose how come they have build assets and
enjoy all the privileges. My life is an open book. I have a house in Langate
which belongs to my father, I have five and a half Malras of land in Srinagar
and five Malras in Jammu which I have purchased some 14 years ago. I don’t have
anything except that.
Precious Kashmir: Why should
people vote for AIP?
Er Rasheed: To end VIP culture,
for making MLA’s accountable, to bring transparency in the system and to ensure
that there is zero tolerance against the human rights violation.
Precious Kashmir: As a member of
Legislative Assembly what you did to seek return of mortal remains of Afzal
Guru?
Er Rasheed: I was the man who
fought for it all along. When he was hanged I said that I may resign but later
I realized that government also wants me to resign. I tried best my best to get
his body back. I approached his family but they said they will themselves
see what to do. What more I could have done.
Precious Kashmir: Do you see
your party as a part of the new government? How many seats you are expecting?
Er Rasheed: Let me not make any
predictions. Let my people decide that if they want a change they will vote.
Precious Kashmir: Is there any
chance of AIP merging with Sajad Lone’s People Conference?
Er Rasheed: Who is Sajad Lone?
I don’t know his address. But there is one thing I am open to anyone who ever
talks about Kashmir.
Precious Kashmir: You had said in
2009 that late Abdul Gani Lone is you mentor?
Er Rasheed: Yes I said it he
is my political mentor. I love him. I have lot of respect and regards for him
as on date. I believe there was only good voice from district Kupwara it was
late Lone Sahib. I was influenced by his ideologies and when he left this world
that ideology was over
Precious Kashmir: If you have to
lend support to any party who would you give and why?
Er Rasheed: I will choose
Lashker e Taiba , Jaish e Muhammad, Udhay Thackrey who else Raj Thackrey and
anybody, whosoever talks of Kashmir resolution. Kashmir issue has killed our
generations. Even if Narrendra Modi supports Kashmir issue I will support him.
Precious Kashmir: If given a chance
to become a chief minister what would be the first thing you would do?
Er Rasheed: Within seven days
I will revoke PSA. I will definitely ensure that no minister would be allowed
to move with more than five vehicles and I will definitely want corrupt people
booked and I would set an example.
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