New Delhi: Abdul Rashid Sheikh, also known as Engineer Rashid, a jailed Member of Parliament and prominent political figure from Kashmir, has announced plans to begin a hunger strike at New Delhi’s Tihar Jail on Friday. The protest is in response to being denied permission to attend the upcoming Budget Session of Parliament.
The announcement was made by Rashid’s Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) General Secretary, Advocate GN Shaheen, during a press conference in Srinagar. Shaheen revealed that despite Rashid’s repeated requests for bail to attend the session, his applications have been rejected.
AIP members to join hunger strike
In a show of support for their leader, AIP members will join the hunger strike in both Srinagar and Jammu. Rashid, who triumphed over former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections for the Baramulla seat, has been incarcerated in Tihar Jail since 2019 under charges related to a terror-funding case filed under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Despite his major electoral victory, there has been no move to grant him bail or temporary parole for parliamentary duties, unlike other political figures who have been allowed to attend sessions under judicial supervision. The AIP has voiced concerns over what they see as the selective enforcement of legal provisions, alleging that Rashid’s strong political views on Kashmir are behind the government’s decision to keep him in jail.
Protests set to intensify
With protests planned across Kashmir and Delhi, the issue has the potential to escalate into a huge political controversy and increase pressure on the government to explain the prolonged detention of an elected representative. As the Parliament session approaches, attention will be focused on whether the government will revise its stance amidst mounting public and political demands.
