Srinagar: Former Sadar-e-Riyasat of erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir Dr Karan Singh has termed Engineer’s Rashid’s victory in Parliament polls from Baramulla as “dramatic”, claiming that winning with such a huge margin was the clear message that people were not happy with the BJP and its policies. He added that holding assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir after being downgraded to a UT is like holding polls for a municipality.
Dr. Karan Singh, in his interview with a New Delhi based news service, remarked that he is uncertain if Sheikh Abdul Rashid (Engineer Rashid) will be released from jail, but his victory clearly signals public dissatisfaction with the BJP.
Dr. Karan Singh also expressed his concerns about the current status of Jammu and Kashmir. “By removing Article 370, the central government has made Jammu and Kashmir junior to states like Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand,” he stated. He highlighted the region’s unique historical significance, which he believes has been diminished. “Today, Jammu and Kashmir is completely different from the time of the Maharaja. We had a very special place, which is no longer there. The first need now is to restore statehood and hold elections. Elections for a Union Territory are like holding elections for a glorious municipal council.”
He emphasized the importance of addressing recent terror incidents in the Jammu division and thwarting the enemies’ attempts to create communal divides.
Commenting on the political scenario, Dr. Singh criticized Omar Abdullah’s decision to contest the parliamentary elections from Baramulla instead of Srinagar. “Omar should have contested from Srinagar; he would have played an important role in Parliament,” he said. Dr. Singh described Engineer Rashid’s dramatic victory from Baramulla by more than two lakh votes as a significant message of public dissatisfaction with the BJP. Rashid, who is currently jailed under the UAPA, symbolizes the complex political dynamics in the region.
Reflecting on his own political journey, Dr. Singh recounted his experiences as the son of Maharaja Hari Singh, the last Dogra ruler of Jammu and Kashmir. He won the Udhampur Lok Sabha seat on a Congress ticket multiple times but lost when he contested from Jammu as an independent in 1984.
