'Omar Abdullah stand on swearing-in will delay J&K's statehood': Engineer Rashid

Engineer Rashid’s AIP came a cropper after creating a buzz in J&K elections. But Rashid told TOI NC has started on a false note by not listening to his advice, which will hurt J&K in getting back statehood

What is your advice to the CM-to-be Omar Abdullah ?

I requested him "don't take oath till statehood is restored". Even Jammu region and BJP MLAs could not have opposed that stance. Nobody is taking away the MLAs. But Omar said Engineer is doing BJP's job. Is BJP silly to ask me to create issues for Omar that will bring a bad name to the Centre? Had he listened to me, we would have got statehood in 15 days. Now, I don't know how long we have to wait. He has missed the bus.

Would you now take a maximalist position to trap the Omar govt?

I will support Omar on all steps he takes for the betterment of people. Had I wanted him to fail, I would have demanded he seek everything (from the Centre) in one day. My agenda is realistic.

You are an elected MP but only on temporary bail?

It is up to the people of India and the GoI. They must drop charges against me like they dropped the Public Safety charges against others. Let them respect the people's mandate. I drew crowds. If the PM told the world that people voted in large numbers in Kashmir, I also played a role in that. Please don't oppose my bail. I have taken oath under the Constitution and the media calls me anti-national.

AIP could win only one seat after all the hype.

My party has been denied registration for seven years, and then a common symbol. We had 8-10 symbols for 34 candidates. So, I could not send a common message to people. I was released when the scrutiny for two phases of nominations was over. So, I could not make a proper selection of candidates. I knew only 2-3 candidates out of 34. It was a one-man show.

There was a buzz around you because of your Lok Sabha win, but you fizzled out.

Unfortunately, people came to know about me only after my release. But I became an MLA in 2008, I stood by my people. I had 4 lakh followers on social media. Anyway, AIP is the second largest force in Kashmir because we have an MP and an MLA, and a reasonable vote share in 30 odd seats.

Did the allegations that you were a BJP proxy hurt your performance?

Here is a man who suffered for 5.5 years in jail, and they created a narrative to suit their politics. The verdict is out, and I am satisfied. People will see how Omar Abdullah will take things forward and he has already started taking U-turns. I was a single MLA but used to keep the entire govt and assembly on their toes on legitimate issues. I singlehandedly from 2008-18 forced Omar, Mufti, Mehbooba to respond to people's issues positively. Let them create perceptions. This is Kashmir. Keep on watching what happens in the future.

You won the Baramulla Lok Sabha elections from prison. Did the bail hurt you in the assembly elections?

No. People did not ever vote for me because they took mercy on me for being in jail. It was not a sympathy vote. I contested the LS polls in 2019 also and lost by 2,7000 votes. It was not a sympathy wave ever, but a vote for my unique model of governance.