AIP says 96.5% cadre vote against exit in secret ballot
Srinagar: The Awami Itehad Party (AIP) on Friday concluded a two-day marathon deliberation by its grassroots cadres and delegates on whether party leader and Member of Parliament Er Rashid should resign or continue as MP, with 746 out of 773 participants voting against resignation, 24 voting in favour, and 3 unable to reach a decision, according to observers who monitored the secret ballot.
The process was conducted under the supervision of social activists Parvaiz Ahmad Bhat and Aijaz Yousuf Shah, who were approached by AIP office bearers to monitor the deliberations.
In a joint statement, the observers said representatives from all eighteen assembly segments deliberated on the subject in 12 meetings, each lasting an average of 90 minutes, with participants providing feedback from the common masses and various sections of society. The process was described as “absolutely transparent, fair, and impartial.”
In a statement issued after the working committee meeting chaired by Senior Vice President G.N. Shaheen, AIP expressed gratitude to participants and noted that Er Rashid had conveyed his intent to resign some time back and had hinted about it on the occasion of his father’s funeral. The party stated that the need to hold such discussions arose because Er Rashid continues to be in jail even after two years of being elected to Parliament with a massive mandate.
AIP clarified that Er Rashid’s victory from jail was not merely a sympathy vote but a vote against fake narratives and for his resistance. The party stated that the charge sheet against Er Rashid does not accuse him of receiving money for terror funding, running or being part of any underground organisation, or having any contact with banned organisations. “All what he is being punished for is his political belief,” the statement said.
The party urged the central government to recognise its “grave mistake” and release Er Rashid with honour and dignity, warning that disrespecting the mandate of the people of north Kashmir would further alienate Kashmiris. AIP said it would convey the opinion of the grassroots cadres to Er Rashid through his legal team and request him to respect the sentiments of the common masses, while noting that he has to take the final call at a time of his choice.
Parvaiz Ahmad Bhat and Aijaz Yousuf Shah, in their capacity as observers, confirmed that participants were given three options: should Er Rashid resign, should he continue, or can’t say. They stated that the process was conducted with complete transparency and that they ensured participants voted as per their conscience. The results showed that an overwhelming majority supported Er Rashid continuing as MP.