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Rashid disassociates from Tarigami, Third Front

SYED YASIR. Dated: 2/5/2015 12:46:19 PM

SRINAGAR, Feb 4: Disassociating himself from third front, Awami Itihad party (AIP) patron and MLA Langat Engineer Abdul Rashid today said that he will announce his decision within two days (probably tomorrow) whom he would support in the Rajya Sabha elections.
Engineer Rashid said that he is in consultation with all the major political parties, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Congress and Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and he would take a final decision after consultation with all the senior leaders of the AIP.
“Within two days, most probably tomorrow, I will announce my decision, which party I will support in Rajya Sabha elections,” he said.
He also made it clear that he is not party to any Third Front claimed by Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami and Hakim Mohammad Yasin.
“I contested the election of my own and was re-elected with the support of the people,” he said.
Engineer, however, said that he has some understanding with Mohammad Yousuf Traigami and Hakim Mohammad Yasin on some issue but it does not necessary mean that he has unanimity on every issue with them.
Replying to a question, Engineer Rashid said that after meeting with senior Congress leader, Ghulam Nabi Azad yesterday, it should not be given an impression that he extended his support to him in Rajya Sabha elections.
“I am in consultation with all the parties, even with PDP and BJP. I am fully aware about the role of all the parties regarding resolution of Kashmir issue when they were in power both at state and centre. I am and aware about their role regarding my resolutions in legislative assembly,” he said.
He said that his first priority is the interests of the state and he will vote only to those parties which later help his cause to resolve all outstanding issues.
Engineer Rashid said that he had not made any pre-condition with any of the political party. “My party agenda is the pre-condition for them,” he said.
He also said that if he remains away from voting, it will benefit BJP. “Even if I decide to abstain from the voting it would ensure BJP’s victory. Who does not know about the track record and future designs of BJP but Congress too has committed many blunders and pushed Kashmiris to the wall,” he said.
“My offer of unconditional support to PDP for formation of non-BJP government was in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of people of the State while as voting in the Rajya Sabha has directly not to do much with the affairs of the State and any unconditional support for the Rajya Sabha may create many apprehensions in my own conscience,” he said.
Engineer Rashid claimed that casting of vote in Rajya Sabha is purely seen by him from various angles and by no ways it should not mean that he is making it a sensational issue for his publicity or any other gains.
“I feel myself in a very tough and tricky situation where I need to care for my people and my conscience more than that for BJP, Congress or PDP”.