The Awami Ittihad Party (AIP) has strongly condemned the authorities’ decision to deny permission for a peaceful hunger strike in solidarity with Engineer Rashid, the incarcerated Member of Parliament from Baramulla. Rashid began an indefinite hunger strike today in Tihar Jail. Authorities informed AIP leaders that permission for the event had been rejected.
This morning, hundreds of AIP leaders and activists were detained, including senior figures such as Firdouse Ahmad Baba, Adil Nazir Khan, Ajaz Ahmad Lone, Showkat Pandit, Tahir Mir, Bashir Mir, Lateef Naikoo, Altaf Dar, Syed Uzair, and District President Anantnag Auqib Mushtaq. Er Rashid’s son, Abrar Rashid, was also among those detained.
The administration also denied permission for a similar programme in Jammu, which was led by Ishtiyaq Qadri, General Secretary Prince Parveez, Advocate Javeed Hubbi, and Ajaz Yousuf.
AIP Chief Spokesperson Inam Un Nabi condemned the denial of permission, asserting, “A democracy thrives on dialogue and dissent, not repression. Silencing voices through force sets a dangerous precedent that undermines the very essence of democratic principles.”
Regarding Engineer Rashid’s indefinite hunger strike, Inam Un Nabi added, “Er Rashid’s decision to go on hunger strike is a desperate yet courageous response to the injustice he has faced. His voice represents the aspirations of the people of Baramulla and Kashmir at large, and suppressing it is a direct affront to democracy. The government must address his grievances instead of ignoring the legitimate demands of an elected representative.”
In a media interaction during a hunger strike alongside Party Vice President G.N. Shaheen, Senior AIP leader and MLA Langate Khursheed Ahmad Sheikh stated, “The trial court has not yet decided on Er Rashid’s bail, so we approached the High Court. But we are not receiving justice from either the court or the administration. We wrote a letter to the administration asking for permission to hold the protest at Pratap Park, but we were denied. Our leaders and workers are being arrested. We are submitting a fresh application to the administration, requesting an alternative location for the protest so we can continue. CM Omar Abdullah won votes on the promise of addressing the suppression of people’s voices, yet he is doing nothing about it.”
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