‘Govt must talk to Kashmiris at grass-roots level’
In a tete-a-tete with The Tribune team, Abdul Rashid Engineer, Independent MLA from the Langate Assembly constituency in Kupwara district, shares his thoughts
Abdul Rashid Engineer, MLA from the Langate Assembly constituency in Kupwara district, in conversation with members of The Tribune team in Jammu. Tribune photos: Anand Sharma
He is probably the only one who took on militants for mindless killings, Army officials for human right abuse and forced labour, and the police for excesses on civilians.
Abdul Rashid resigned from a senior post in the Public Health and Engineering Department to contest elections and beat many bigwigs.
He shares his journey from torture chambers of police to the state Assembly in a tete-e-tete with The Tribune.
Two students from the Kendriya Vidhyala-2, Akanksha Dhar and Gunjan Verma, also participated in the interaction.
Jupinderjit Singh: You are an engineer by profession. Why did you choose to be in politics?
Abdul Rashid Engineer (AR): I have constructed a number of bridges, roads and buildings in my 20 years’ of service. I was not liked by contractors, my seniors and employees, as I did not take bribe or pilfer construction material.
All that while, I could not shut my eyes to the bloodshed and human rights abuse in the valley, especially in Kupwara. I confronted militants on killings of innocent people and exploitation of youngsters.
The security forces were taking forced labour from villagers. I raised my voice against that. I was once tortured and kept in a small room along with 14 other prisoners. We could not stretch our legs and arms. A senior police official asked me if I had learnt a lesson and what I would do after being released. I told him I would contest elections and return as an MLA. This is how my political career began.
Dinesh Manhotra (DM): You have been considered as “giant killer” because despite being novice in politics you defeated veterans like Sharief ud Din Shariq of the NC and Mohammad Sultan Pandit Puri of the PDP. How did you manage such victory?
AR: I had no money. But once I announced my decision to contest, people came in my support. They gave me money and campaigned for me. NC and PDP leaders adopted all means to defame me, but it was love and faith of people that I won the elections with a comfortable margin.
Ashutosh Sharma (AS): What is the most memorable moment of your life?
AR: There are many. The most haunting incident occurred when I decided to contest elections. Contesting as an independent candidate was neither acceptable to mainstream politicians nor separatists or militants. My mother even put her “dupatta” in my feet and pleaded to give up the idea. I could not do that as during my jail days, I had pledged to become an MLA for the welfare of my people.
DM: You defeated Shariq ud Din Shariq in the Assembly elections but he later won the Lok Sabha elections. Don’t you think that it is mockery of the democratic system?
AR: Issues in the Lok Sabha elections are entirely different. Firstly, people always vote for the ruling party in the Lok Sabha elections and secondly, I also supported Shariq. In my opinion, people don’t take the Lok Sabha elections as seriously as compare to Assembly elections.
Ravi Krishnan Khajuria (RKK): Kupwara once remained the hotbed of militancy. What is the scenario today in the valley and how you are contributing your bit to bring back misguided youth into the mainstream.
AR: Not only in Kupwara but also in the entire Valley, the “sentiment” is there and no one could deny it and separatists use it to their advantage. A senior separatist leader, who always talked and preached sacrifices, now tell the militancy affected people to accept ex-gratia relief from the government. I feel that the government should talk to Kashmiris and that is the only way peace could be restored.
RKK: What is your reaction to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s proposed amnesty and rehabilitation policy for the misguided youth stranded in PoK?
AR: Before discussing amnesty, I want to make a point. Several people feel that rigging in the 1987 Assembly elections was the root cause of triggering militancy in the state. Suppose, had UJC chief Salahuddin won the elections, he, too, would have become part of the system. I want to say that we need realistic people and a politics of reconciliation. What is mainstream and what is separatist sentiment… these terms are abuses to the system.
It is time we must talk to Salahuddin. We must see the problem in right perspective because shying away from it won’t help us in anyway.
RKK: So, what exactly should be done to see that peace returns to the state?
AR: Talk to Kashmiri youth, talk to militants and UJC chief Salahuddin, isolate foreign mercenaries and stop talking to people, who have vested interests. As far as amnesty to misguided youth in PoK is concerned, don’t you think that those who want to return without guns should be allowed to come back, lead a normal life and become productive citizens. Do you want to kill militancy or militants?
I strongly feel that a broad-based reconciliation policy is the need of the hour.
RKK: Will you define the contours of your formula?
AR: We have to start from somewhere. I told you that we must talk to Kashmiris at grass-roots level and engage Salahuddin in talks because people in the valley are now fed up with separatists.
Archit Watts: You are known as angry young man in the Assembly, why so?
AR: Am I (laughs)? I was thinking this title has been given to the Chief Minister. Still, I acknowledge the title, which some politicians have given to me. Yes, sometimes I behave like this, as you are saying. But it is need of the hour of my constituency, as my people are suffering from a number of problems. And I will do it, whether it is right or wrong.
Akanksha (student): Why do MLAs make so much noise in the Assembly?
AR: True, we must be polite. But as I already explained that when , when we are not heard, we have no option but to shout. Also, MLAs job is not for all life. We have to perform in the Assembly and in the constituency. One has to get heard to get projects for the people of his constituency.
DM: You are claiming not to be part of the coalition government but you are sitting on the side of treasury benches. What are the reasons?
I want to make it clear neither I am with the opposition nor with the ruling alliance. My affiliation is only with the people of Langate and I will take all decisions keeping in view the aspirations of the people of my constituency.
AS: Members of SC/ST communities consider proposed ban on inter-district recruitments against their interest, still you have been vociferously advocating the same. Why?
AR: There seems to be a communication gap. The proposed ban would not be against any community. It’s all about providing equal opportunities to all. Do you think that a candidate belonging to a backward area say for instance Kupwara can compete with his counterparts in Jammu and Kashmir districts.
The ban could be effected by exempting the backward communities but again it needs a consensus. When Harsh Dev Singh raised the same issue it received criticism from Kashmir and now when I have asked for the ban on inter-district recruitment, a lot of hue and cry is being raised in Jammu. Both regions should agree upon issues of mutual benefit and common good.
AS: The kind of commitment and honesty you display for the people is missing on part of other politicians. What’s your take?
AR: They talk of austerity, but I practice it in real sense. I avoid security, government vehicles and take food from roadside dhabas. On the other hand, when I see some ministers and bureaucrats blowing up public money for their luxuries, I feel bad.
Sunaina Kaul (SK): Being an independent MLA, what is your policy for the minority community of the valley?
AR: When I had no money to contest elections, a Kashmiri Pandit donated me Rs 50,000. I could never repay that gratitude. I came to Jammu for the first time only after becoming an MLA. I visited their camps and saw their condition. I will provide Rs 5 lakh to the displaced Kashmiri Pandits for their welfare. I am ready to help them and to fight for their issues in the Assembly. The government should reserve 2 per cent seats for them in the Assembly before their return to the valley so that they could get a proper platform to raise their issues.
Gunjan (student): Are you in favour of the Permanent Residents (Women) Disqualification Bill? Isn’t it discriminatory?
AR: I am against all kinds of discrimination. Rules should be the same for men and women.
No comments:
Post a Comment