Omar Abdullah Questions Rashid Engineer’s Stance on ‘Naya Kashmir’
Doda (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], September 12: National Conference leader Omar Abdullah criticized Baramulla MP Rashid Engineer for his remarks on ‘Naya Kashmir.’ Abdullah suggested that Rashid might have made a deal with the BJP if he doesn’t repeat his previous calls for referendums.
Omar Abdullah said, “He (Engineer Rashid) was in jail, how could the correct news reach him. He is a victim of misunderstanding… If he (Engineer Rashid) has come out of jail only to challenge the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a new Kashmir, then what is new in it? Earlier, he used to talk about referendums during elections…I first want to hear those slogans from his mouth, otherwise, I will think that he has made a deal with the BJP.”
After being granted bail, Rashid Engineer said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Naya Kashmir’ will collapse. “I will just say that truth will prevail. I hope for the justice. The election is important as Kashmir is at a crucial stage. The people of J&K will successfully fight for justice as they are united. PM Modi’s so-called vision of ‘Naya Kashmir’ will fail,” Rashid Engineer stated.
The Patiala House Court issued a release order for Rashid Engineer, imposing the condition that he must not speak to the media about the ongoing terror funding case. This followed the interim bail granted to him on Tuesday, ahead of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections. Rashid Engineer has been granted interim bail until October 2.
Rashid, who recently won the Baramulla seat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections by defeating former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, seeks bail as his case progresses. The 2024 Assembly elections will mark the first local elections in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370. Elections will be held in three phases in September and October – September 18, September 25, and October 1, with the counting of votes on October 8.
Doubts Revealed
Omar Abdullah -: Omar Abdullah is a politician from Jammu and Kashmir. He is a leader of the National Conference party and has served as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir.
National Conference -: The National Conference is a political party in Jammu and Kashmir. It was founded by Sheikh Abdullah, Omar Abdullah’s grandfather.
Baramulla MP -: An MP is a Member of Parliament. Baramulla is a district in Jammu and Kashmir, and Rashid Engineer is the MP representing that area.
Rashid Engineer -: Rashid Engineer is a politician from Jammu and Kashmir. He is the MP for Baramulla and has been vocal about issues in the region.
Naya Kashmir -: ‘Naya Kashmir’ means ‘New Kashmir.’ It refers to the vision of a modern and developed Jammu and Kashmir, often associated with the policies of the current Indian government.
BJP -: BJP stands for Bharatiya Janata Party. It is one of the major political parties in India, currently led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Referendums -: A referendum is a vote by the people on a specific issue. In this context, it refers to the idea of letting the people of Jammu and Kashmir decide their future.
PM Modi -: PM Modi is Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India. He is a leader of the BJP and has a vision for developing Jammu and Kashmir.
Bail -: Bail is when someone who has been arrested is allowed to go free until their trial, usually after paying some money as a guarantee.
Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections -: These are elections to choose representatives for the legislative assembly of Jammu and Kashmir. The assembly makes laws and decisions for the region.
Abrogation of Article 370 -: Article 370 was a part of the Indian Constitution that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir. It was removed in 2019, changing the region’s relationship with the rest of India.
