J&K Polls: Engineer Rashid Says Will Decide About Supporting Any Group After Results

Awami Ittehad Party chief Engineer Rashid appealed to Gupkar alliance partners to unite on the issue of restoration of statehood in Jammu and Kashmir.

Lok Sabha MP from Baramulla and Awami Ittehad Party chief Sheikh Abdul Rashid alias Engineer Rashid said on Monday that his party will support any government on the issue of restoration of the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir. 

Rashid made the announcement a day ahead of the counting of votes to the 90-member Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.

Addressing a press conference, Rashid said that no single party will get the majority and that the government that will be formed in Jammu and Kashmir will be "weak" irrespective of which party forms it. 

He appealed to the Gupkar alliance partners to come together on the issue of restoration of statehood. "For the last five years Gupkar alliance did not achieve anything but now I appeal to all the parties that they should be together on the issue of statehood.  The new govt and all regional parties should pressurise the union govt to give full statehood to J&K," he said. 

The People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) is an alliance of seven parties that seeks the restoration of the erstwhile state's special status, which was revoked by the Centre in August 2019. 

People's Democratic Party, Jammu Kashmir National Conference CPI-M, People's Conference, Awami National Conference, the CPI, and the People's Movement are part of the PAGD. 

Rashid said that his party will support any government on the issue of restoration of statehood. He also said that the winning alliance should stall the formation of the government until statehood is restored.

He also raised the issue of the Capital of Jammu and Kashmir and pitched for the historic 'Darbar Move'. 

Darbar Move was the bi-annual shifting of the secretariat and all other government offices of Jammu and Kashmir from one capital city to another. Between May to October, the administration was run from the summer capital Srinagar and from the winter capital Jammu for the rest of the six months. 

During the press conference, Rashid also condemned the controversial remark by Yati Narisghanand on Prophet Muhammad. He demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi to decide on the quantum of punishment.

He accused the Election Commission of India asking why Apni Party, DPAP and other parties have been registered but the registration of Awami Ittehad Party’s file is pending.