Launching a new political party- Awami Ittihad- Independent MLA from Langate, Engineer Sheikh Abdur Rashid said since National Conference and the opposition PDP have failed to fulfill the aspirations of people, his party would be an alternative that would bring a new revolution on the political arena. He also said if separatists would bring Azadi (freedom), he would follow them or else the pro-fr
eedom leaders should join him in the larger public interest. Rashid made the announcement about his new party during a press conference here. “The continuous hatred between NC and PDP and their subsequent failure has forced me to launch a new party,” Rashid said. Rashid asked people to strengthen his party to get rid of NC and PDP. Categorizing Awami Ittihad as Insaf Nawaz (pro-justice), Rashid said his party will try best to give Kashmiris what “Hind Nawaz” (PDP, NC, Cong, others) and “Hurriyat Nawaz” (separatists) have failed at. “Our party will bring revolution and change the political map of Kashmir. It will be active from Lakhanpur to Srinagar,” he said. He accused NC and PDP of sabotaging the resolution seeking clemency for Afzal Guru. “Both the parties played a drama in the Assembly and sabotaged my resolution. When Guru was hanged, I brought another resolution seeking return of his body. Unfortunately, these parties played politics and acted as puppets of New Delhi,” he said. He said NC and PDP extended full support to President Pranab Mukherji during presidential polls. “Had these parties supported the President on the condition that Government of India should not hang Guru, situation would have been altogether different. Instead, NC and PDP preferred to remain in good books of New Delhi to save their chairs,” he said. The MLA Langate said PDP is a “failed opposition while government is dancing on the tunes of New Delhi.”
“Not a single person was booked and punished for killing innocent youth in 2008, 2009 and 2010 agitations. All mainstream parties played like puppets of New Delhi to save their chairs,” he said. Rashid said over the past five years, he has met Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, PDP chief Mehbooba M***i, State Congress chief Saifuddin Soz and CPI (M) leader M Y Tarigami ample times. “I told all of them that we are small but the issues that Kashmiri people are confronted with are too big. We should join hands to address the people’s problems. But all of them failed,” he said. “NC leaders told me that they are 28 in number why should they listen to me. Similarly, PDP leaders told me they were having 21 legislators, why would they accept my suggestions.”
“As a legislator, I tried to raise the issues of public importance in and outside the Assembly. But I thought I need more support. My voice needs to be echoed from every corner of Kashmir. If NC and PDP would have united for Kashmir, I would not have constituted a new party,” Rashid claimed. He also said that his party would strive for a peaceful solution to Kashmir issue by pressurizing India and Pakistan to resolve the issue as per the wishes of people keeping in view the sacrifices offered. “We will also fight against human rights violations and demand revocation of Public Safety Act and Armed Forces Special Powers Act,” he said. Asked whether separatism had no role in Kashmir, he said the Hurriyat people have their own agenda. “If they bring Azadi, I will join them. Otherwise, they will have to join me for the interests of people,” he said. Rashid also said there was no place for criminals in his party. “The members in my party would be clean so that a political vacuum is filled,” he said. He said people should come forward to make his party strong. “Our party will be an alternative to NC and PDP,” he said. To a query whether he would like to join hands with Peoples Conference chairman Sajad Lone, he said it is premature to say anything over what would happen in future.
“Let God’s wrath fall upon me if I represent any agency. I am not a VIP but have come from a poor family with the sole purpose to serve people and relieve them from anarchy and present corrupt system. If I had wished I would have been a Minister but I am not a power monger and just want to take people out from the mess,” Rashid said. Rashid nominated Advocate Nazir Ahmed Malik of Bandipora as General Secretary and Moulana Showket Ahmed Nadvi of Ganderbal as the spokesman of his party.
