Out on interim bail, Baramulla MP Abdul Rashid Sheikh, popularly known as Engineer Rashid, on Tuesday attended the funeral prayers of his father, Khazir Mohammad Sheikh, at their ancestral village in Handwara in Kupwara district, where thousands of people gathered to pay their last respects.
Engineer Rashid, who was released from Tihar Jail earlier in the morning, travelled directly from Srinagar Airport to his native village Mawar Payeen to participate in the last rites. The funeral prayers were led by his brother, senior Awami Itihaad Party leader and Langate MLA Sheikh Khursheed Ahmad.
A spokesman of the AIP said people from different walks of life, including political, social and religious personalities, visited the family to offer condolences and express solidarity with Engineer Rashid and his family.
Addressing mourners at the funeral prayers, MP Rashid made an emotional appeal asking people to learn lessons from death and reflect upon the futility of hatred, animosity and revenge in human life.
He said his struggle has never been against individuals or ordinary people but against injustice and systems that allow injustice to flourish.
Recalling an incident from his days as a social activist before entering electoral politics, MP Rashid narrated how authorities had once announced a reward to capture a man-eating animal alive instead of killing it so that its violent behaviour could be changed. Drawing a parallel, he said if society can attempt to reform even a dangerous animal, then human beings who may have committed mistakes also deserve opportunities for reform, dignity and justice rather than permanent hatred and exclusion.
Engineer Rashid further said his political struggle was much bigger than issues like Article 370 or Statehood alone and is fundamentally linked to justice, dignity and respect for people.
Rashid reiterated that he has no enmity with the 140 crore people of India and that his disagreement is only with systems that perpetuate injustice and inequality.
Meanwhile, AIP Chief Spokesperson Inam un Nabi thanked the authorities, civil administration and police administration for smoothly managing the massive gathering and maintaining order during the funeral proceedings.
