The authorities in Kashmir on Friday (January 31, 2025) denied permission to the Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) to hold a hunger strike in favour of incarcerated Member of Parliament (MP) Engineer Rashid, who sat on an indefinite hunger strike inside the Tihar Jail, Delhi, over denial to attend the Parliament session.
“The authorities denied us permission for holding a peaceful hunger strike and solidarity march for incarcerated MP Rashid,” AIP spokesman Inam-Un-Nabi said.
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The AIP condemned the authorities’ decision. “This morning, hundreds of AIP leaders and activists were detained, including senior leaders Firdouse Ahmad Baba, Adil Nazir Khan and MP Rashid’s son Abrar Rashid,” the AIP spokesman said.
Mr. Nabi said a democracy thrives on dialogue and dissent not repression. “Silencing voices through force is a dangerous precedent that contradicts the very essence of democratic principles,” he said.
Meanwhile, the AIP informed that MP Rashid has started an indefinite hunger strike at the Tihar Jail and said MP Rashid’s decision to go on a hunger strike “was a desperate yet courageous response to the injustice meted out to him”.
“His voice represents the aspirations of the people of Baramulla and Kashmir at large and suppressing that voice is a direct affront to democracy. The government must address his grievances instead of turning a blind eye to the legitimate demands of an elected representative,” Mr. Nabi said.
AIP vice-president G.N. Shaheen said the trial court has not given any decision on the bail of MP Rashid. “We approached the High Court. But we are not getting justice either from the court or the administration. We wrote a letter to the administration to allow the protest at Pratap Park, but we were not allowed. We are giving a fresh application to the administration that if they have any problem with the protest at Pratap Park, they should allot an alternate place and we will continue the fresh strike,” Mr. Shaheen said.
J&K Peoples Conference (JKPC) chief Sajad Lone also condemned the move of the authorities. “Peaceful dissent is a right not charity. Irrespective of our political differences with AIP, we defend their right to protest. They have not been allowed to hold a peaceful protest. J&K has a history of muzzling civilian peaceful dissent. And that proved v costly. Let us hope we learn from the mistakes of the past and create a dignified space for peaceful dissent or protest,” Mr. Lone said.
J&K Lieutenant-Governor Manoj Sinha oversees the public law and order in the Union Territory.
Published – February 01, 2025 05:33 am IST