Engineer Rashid

| Engineer Rashid (Urdu;انجینیر رشید) born Sheikh Abdul Rashid (Urdu;شیخ عُبدالرشید) is an Indian Politician and Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Langate constituency in Handwara of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. He is also referred as the firebrand lawmaker of Jammu and Kashmir. Rashid joined politics in the year 2008 and stunned political observers by defeating senior NC and PDP leaders Sharif Din Shariq and Muhammad Sultan Panditpuri by 210 votes. He also won from the same constituency in the year 2015. He is currently MLA from Langate and patron of Awami Itihad Party.^[1]

Personal life

Engineer Rashid was born on 19 August 1967 in small hamlet of Mawar in Langate of Kupwara district in the Indian administrated state of Jammu and Kashmir.He is the elder son of a retired government school teacher Khazir Mohammad Sheikh.He is married and has three children.^[2]

Early life, Education and Career

Engineer Rashid studied up to class 10th in Mawar.He passed the high school examination in the year 1983.He completed his 12th as a science student from Govt. Higher Secondary School, Handwara.He is the alumnus of Government Degree College, Sopore,where from he graduated in Science.He completed 3Year Engineering diploma from Government Polytechnic College in 1991.In September 27, 1993, he was appointed as assistant manager (equivalent to junior engineer) in J&K Projects Construction Corporation (JKPCC)—a semi government construction corporation.He maintained a clean image without facing any charge of corruption during his professional career.^[3]

During Counter insurgency period in J&K

According to Engineer Rashid the period between 1990 and 1993 was the worst for him,during those years, Rashid was subjected to 400 days of army’s bonded labour—the modern day begear.According to Rashid, "the army would force me and others to clean and fill their vehicle with petrol.Besides he had to bear the brunt when army would frequently turn his residence into a makeshift camp by locking down his whole family inside one room.In the summer of 1995, he was severely beaten by some unidentified gunmen after refusing them cement from the site of an under-construction bridge in his area,and eventually hospitalized for three weeks in Srinagar’s Bone & Joints Hospital.In 1998, he was promoted to deputy manager in JKPCC.He rose to senior manager post in 2002. He was to get promotion as executive engineer ,but resigned to fight election in 2008.^[4]

Political career

Rashid started political career in the year 2008,after campaigning for merely 17 days and won the constituency seat from Langate in Handwara town in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir.As he had already got publicity for his social service and for his firm stand against army excesses.On Feb 3, 2003, he led an anti-army protest demonstration of around 15000 people in his area after a youth was killed in army custody.Back home fearing army backlash, his father showed him the door.He stayed away for many weeks before reuniting with his family.His popularity was only growing in and around Langate. By 2004 he did what many now call unthinkable,He resisted government’s plan to divert water of a reservoir to other areas, which could have resulted in drought in 150 villages of Mawar area.This incident was a landmark event in Rashid’s popularity in the area.His devotion for social service started affecting his job. With the result, he faced 5 suspensions; and his salary was withheld countless times.In the summer of 2005, Rashid was protesting against army excesses in his area, again.He was expelled from home by his father for the second time, who was wary of his constant cudgels with army.Rashid had to spend more than two months outside home. This, however, didn’t damp his spirit for social service.^[5]

Arrest

In the year 2005, Rashid was arrested by SOG in Srinagar allegedly for supporting militants subsequently jailed for three months and 17 days.A charge of anti national activities was slapped on him.He was kept in Cargo, Humhama and Raj bagh prisons.Later Chief Judaical Magistrate Srinagar dropped all charges against him.According to Rashid he was arrested by motley group of counter-insurgents that worked closely with the State police and took him to interrogation centre, where he was “beaten, water-boarded and made to undergo electric shocks.” After five months of torture, he negotiated his release, paying up Rs.1.5 lakh in ransom. by selling some land and a cow to raise that money.^[6]

Attacks

On October 8, 2015 Engineer Rashid was assaulted and thrashed by BJP MLA's inside the Jammu and Kashmir assembly for hosting a party where he served beef on the lawns of the government circuit house.

He was also attacked with ink in Press Club New Delhi a day after his critical comments regarding the lynching of a Kashmiri truck driver in Udhampur.^[7][8]

Criticism

He is often referred to as pro-Pakistani politician. He is always criticized for his nature inside the assembly.

References