Waris Fayaz
Srinagar, Jan 31 : Authorities on Friday disallowed the Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) from holding a hunger strike in Srinagar, Jammu and Delhi in solidarity with its jailed Member Parliament (MP) Er Rashid, the party said.
The party, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said they will seek fresh permission to hold a peaceful protest. It, however, condemned the move, calling it an attack on democratic rights.
They said several party leaders and workers, including the jailed MP’s son, were detained.
Expressing disappointment over the authorities’ refusal to grant permission for their peaceful protest, MLA Langate and senior AIP leader Sheikh Khursheed said they had formally sought permission but were denied to hold a hunger strike in support of their party chief Er Rashid.
MLA criticised the detentions, saying the government’s response was unjustified. “If the authorities had security concerns at Pratap Park, they could have allowed us to conduct the strike at our party office, as we had requested. Instead, our leaders and workers were detained. It is our right to stand with our leader,” he said.
Asked whether Er Rashid has begun his hunger strike inside Tihar Jail, Khursheed said they have no direct contact with him. However, he confirmed that through legal counsel, Er Rashid had conveyed his decision to begin the hunger strike at 10:30 am.
Meanwhile, AIP vice president, G N Shaheen said they have “called off” the hunger strike protest call, and will discuss the future course of action after applying for fresh permission for the peaceful protest.
Shaheen said the party in no way will hold violent protests, but a peaceful one in solidarity with Er Rashid, who he alleged was denied his political rights. “It will be entirely within the parameters of law,” he said—(KNO)
