Rashid’s team addresses grievances on ground as MP remains in Tihar

Lok Sabha MP from Baramulla, Engineer Rashid, is currently imprisoned over 800 km away in New Delhi’s Tihar Jail, but he is keeping an eye on his constituency through a team of trusted aides, who work on the ground to resolve people’s problems.

Rashid has been lodged in Tihar after he was arrested in 2019 by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in a terror-funding case.

According to Rashid’s Awami Ittehad Party (AIP), the party has opened several MP offices in north Kashmir and a team has been working to address public grievances, ensuring that “governance doesn’t halt in his absence”.

Talking to The Tribune, AIP’s chief spokesperson Inam Un Nabi, an aide of Rashid, said five teams consisting of four members each have been formed to “act as ears and eyes” of the MP.

Inam said after the Assembly election, when Rashid was briefly released, he set up MP grievance cell offices in every district falling under his parliamentary jurisdiction.

“Each office is well-equipped with an office in-charge, a steno and a helper to facilitate the redressal of public grievances seamlessly. The office in-charge is also responsible for accompanying applicants to government offices when needed,” he added.

According to the party, during his brief interim release, Rashid equitably distributed Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) funds across all 18 Assembly segments with a focus on strengthening hospitals with essential equipment, supporting schools and higher education institutions.

Rashid has been allowed interim bail thrice — one to campaign for the Assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir and twice to attend Parliament sessions, including the ongoing one.

The party claimed that after the grievance cells were opened, hundreds of constituents have come here with their grievances. “Each MP office is witnessing an influx of grievances, primarily focused on issues related to drinking water, electricity poles, road connectivity and Rural Development Department,” added Inam.

He said Rashid’s native district had seen more than 800 grievances — with major complaints from Machil, Keran and Karnah regarding road connectivity, lack of teachers and doctors, drinking water shortages and erratic electricity supply.

“In Baramulla district, the office has received over 150 complaints. Here, electricity shortage, issues related to drinking water supply and road connectivity remain the most common concerns,” says Inam, adding that Bandipora and Budgam districts have also reported similar grievances.

AIP state secretary Sheikh Ashiq said while the party is working hard by taking all judicial remedies to make sure Rashid could get out of jail at the earliest, the party’s a team on the ground was ensuring that people’s problems were looked into.

“The party realises the mandate given to Rashid sahab...the party is on the ground to make sure public service does not stop,” he said, adding that feedback is also collected from the ground in the constituency.