Celebrations in Kupwara over Er Rasheed’s massive win
Srinagar: Engineer Abdul Rasheed’s supporters, comprising men, women, and youth gathered in large numbers outside his residence in Langate, Kupwara district of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir to celebrate his remarkable victory.
According to Kashmir Media Service, in a stunning turn of events, Engineer Rashid has won the Baramulla Indian parliamentary seat by a landslide, despite being currently incarcerated in Tihar jail on fabricated charges.
Rasheed’s brother, Sheikh Khursheed, expressed gratitude to the people for their overwhelming support, stating that this win belongs to the people, not just their family. He emphasized that the common man has shown that every candidate stands a chance to win, and voters are not anyone’s inheritance. He assured that Rasheed’s team would address the constituency’s issues and hoped for better representation in Parliament. The massive mandate has bolstered demands for Rasheed’s immediate release.
Rasheed’s win is seen as a significant development in the territory, with many hailing it as a testament to the power of ideology. His campaign, led by his sons, was run on a shoestring budget of Rs 27,000, highlighting the grassroots support he enjoys.
As the demands for his release grow louder, it remains to be seen how New Delhi will respond to the aspirations of the people who have chosen him as their representative for his well-known ideology about political future of Jammu and Kashmir.
It is worth mentioning here that the people of occupied Kashmir have historically rejected India-sponsored elections, instead demanding a plebiscite to determine the territory’s political future. However, with all avenues for closed, they have strategically participated in select constituencies to send a strong message to the BJP-led government. In a significant show of defiance, they have elected Engineer Rasheed, a vocal advocate for Kashmir’s plebisicite, to represent them in the Baramulla Lok Sabha seat. This victory is seen as a testament to the people’s resistance and a rejection of India’s attempts to legitimize its occupation through electoral processes. By voting for Engineer Rasheed, the people have sent a clear message to Delhi: respect our aspirations and grant us the right to self-determination.
