BJP’s election in-charge for Jammu and Kashmir, Ram Madhav, criticized Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid for his statement opposing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Naya Kashmir’. Rashid, who had been jailed under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for alleged anti-India activities, recently received interim bail in a terror funding case and expressed his intent to challenge the government’s narrative on Kashmir.
Upon his release from Delhi’s Tihar Jail, Rashid vowed to oppose Modi’s vision for the region, claiming that the initiatives taken on August 5, 2019, have been rejected by the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He emphasized his commitment to working for the welfare of his constituents and differentiated his fight from that of other regional leaders, positioning his struggle as one against the BJP and its policies.
Madhav responded strongly, equating Rashid’s rhetoric with that of other regional leaders like Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti, and Sajjad Lone, accusing them of opposing Modi’s vision for ‘Naya Kashmir’. He reaffirmed the BJP’s commitment to their plan for the region, stating that their efforts to transform Kashmir would continue unabated.
The political climate in Jammu and Kashmir is heating up as the assembly elections approach, with the first phase of polling scheduled for September 18. Rashid, who won the Baramulla seat as an independent candidate in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, is now leading his party, Awami Ittehad Party (AIP), into the assembly elections.
Rashid was arrested in 2019 in connection with a terror funding case investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). His involvement came to light during the probe into Kashmiri businessman Zahoor Watali, who was accused of financing terrorist groups and separatists in the Kashmir Valley. The NIA’s charge sheet in the case also included prominent separatist figures and leaders of militant organizations, highlighting a network of financial support for anti-India activities in the region.
