Sheikh Abdul Rashid, also known as Engineer Rashid and leader of the Awami Ittehad Party (AIP), has taken a sharp jab at National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah, accusing him of shifting his position on contesting elections in Jammu and Kashmir. Rashid’s criticism comes after Abdullah previously declared that he would not run for office unless statehood was restored to the region, but is now actively participating in the political process.
In an exclusive interview with India Today, Engineer Rashid called out Omar Abdullah as “power hungry,” arguing that his desire for control over governmental resources, such as security and central vigilance, reveals his true ambitions. Rashid’s remarks were a direct response to Abdullah’s condemnation of Baramulla MP’s call for boycotting the government formation process in Jammu and Kashmir. Abdullah had accused Rashid of playing into the hands of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
“If they get the majority and the government formation is delayed for 10 days, 1 week, or 2 weeks… If we were united, we could demand the Modi government not to humiliate us and restore statehood,” Engineer Rashid said. “But it is clear that Omar Saab is so power hungry. He wants that ‘lal batti’, the police, and central vigilance in his control.”
Rashid, who was released from Delhi’s Tihar Jail on September 11 after being detained since 2019 in a terror funding case, dismissed accusations that his release was intended to divide votes in favor of the BJP. “They [NC] made the battle personal with me. They never imagined that a common man like me could rise to this level,” he said, affirming his commitment to fight for the people.
When asked about the potential of supporting the NC-Congress alliance, Rashid maintained that AIP is an independent party, stating, “Let’s wait and see how many seats we will get.” He also condemned the political maneuvering of NC and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), calling both parties “power hungry,” and casting doubt on the sincerity of their alliances.
Engineer Rashid further attacked Omar Abdullah’s credibility, highlighting his earlier declaration that he would not run for office until Jammu and Kashmir’s full statehood was restored. He accused Abdullah of reversing his position for personal gain, claiming, “This is the same Omar Saab who said he would never contest elections unless total statehood is restored. Now, he is changing colors.”
Meanwhile, election trends indicate that the NC-Congress alliance is leading with 47 seats, while the BJP is ahead on 28, according to Election Commission data.
