Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid was released from Tihar Jail on Wednesday after being granted interim bail, allowing him to campaign in the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections. The court’s decision provides Rashid, who leads the Awami Ittehad Party (AIP), temporary relief until October 2, marking his return to the political arena.
Rashid had been imprisoned since 2019 after being arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in connection with a 2017 terror funding case. Speaking after his release, Rashid made it clear that his primary goal is to challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Naya Kashmir” narrative, which he claims has failed the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
“I will not let down my people. I pledge to fight PM Modi’s narrative of ‘Naya Kashmir’ which has completely failed. The people have rejected everything that was done on August 5, 2019,” Rashid declared, referring to the abrogation of Article 370. He further emphasized his commitment to working for the welfare of the people, stating, “We are not scared, and my fight is for the people, unlike Omar Abdullah’s fight for power.”
Rashid’s release was confirmed by senior prison officials at 4:15 PM, following an order from Additional Sessions Judge Chander Jit Singh, who approved the bail on a personal bond of ₹2 lakh and one surety of the same amount. Rashid is restricted from speaking to the media about the case as part of his bail conditions.
Having defeated former chief minister Omar Abdullah in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Rashid’s return to the political stage could influence the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections. The elections are scheduled to take place in three phases on September 18, 25, and October 1, with the results expected on October 8.
Rashid’s Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) is gearing up for a tough contest in these elections, and the MP has promised to unite the people of Kashmir and continue his fight against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and PM Modi’s policies in the region.
As the assembly elections approach, Rashid’s release has reignited political debates in Jammu and Kashmir, where the struggle for political representation and rights continues to dominate the discourse.
