Engineer Abdul Rashid, popularly known as Er Rashid, the incarcerated Lok Sabha MP from Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir, and president of the Awami Ittehad Party (AIP), is currently in the final hours of a planned 48-hour hunger strike inside Delhi’s Tihar Jail. As of September 22, 2025, the symbolic fast—started at 11 a.m. on September 20—has entered its third and concluding day, with Rashid having completed over 40 hours without food. This marks at least the third such protest he has undertaken while in custody this year, highlighting his persistent advocacy for Kashmiri rights amid his ongoing detention since 2019 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in a terror funding case.
Details of the Current Hunger Strike
- Duration and Timeline: The strike is set to end by Monday morning, September 22. Rashid formally announced it in a letter to Tihar’s Director General of Prisons on September 19, emphasizing it as a “moral outcry” rather than an indefinite fast.
- Purpose: Rashid is protesting what he describes as the “hypocrisy” of India and Pakistan, who prioritize “cricket diplomacy” during the Asia Cup while ignoring the “unending pain, sacrifices, and human rights violations” in Jammu and Kashmir. He has dedicated the action to the estimated 70,000 lives lost in the region since 1989 due to Indo-Pak hostilities, urging civil society, media, judiciary, and political parties on both sides to address the “denial of legitimate political and human rights” to Kashmiris.
- Health and Solidarity: No immediate health concerns have been reported for this short strike, unlike earlier ones where Rashid lost significant weight (e.g., 5 kg in five days during a February 2025 indefinite fast). However, AIP supporters, human rights activists, and civil society members rallied at the party’s Srinagar office on September 21, expressing solidarity and underscoring Rashid’s role as a voice for detained Kashmiris.
Context: Rashid’s Detention and Previous Strikes
Rashid, elected in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls by over 500,000 votes despite being jailed, has been unable to attend Parliament sessions due to his incarceration—a point he has repeatedly highlighted as an “affront to democracy.” His protests often draw parallels to historical injustices, like the 1975 Emergency, while criticizing both major Indian parties for silence on Kashmiri detentions under draconian laws.
| Date | Duration | Reason | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 30, 2025 | Planned (details limited) | Denial of parliamentary access; selective application of laws post-Article 370 abrogation | AIP organized solidarity strikes in Srinagar, Jammu, and Delhi; no resolution |
| February 2025 | 11 days (indefinite) | Inability to attend Parliament; broader democratic rights denial | Ended after Delhi High Court granted two-day custody parole; Rashid hospitalized briefly due to weight loss |
| June 28, 2025 | 24 hours | Continued denial of democratic rights to Kashmiris; silence on UAPA detentions | AIP leaders joined in solidarity; aimed to expose “hypocrisy” of BJP and Congress |
| September 20–22, 2025 | 48 hours (ongoing) | Cricket diplomacy ignoring Kashmir’s suffering; reminder of 70,000 deaths | Symbolic protest; widespread media coverage and public support |
Broader Implications
Rashid’s actions spotlight the plight of hundreds of Kashmiris detained without trial under UAPA and similar laws, especially post-2019 when Article 370 was abrogated. His family and AIP have called for his release, arguing that his election reflects public mandate. On X (formerly Twitter), the story has trended among Kashmiri diaspora and activists, with posts amplifying calls for international attention to human rights in the region. As the strike concludes today, AIP spokesperson Inam Un Nabi stated it serves as a “reminder that Kashmir’s voice, though jailed, remains unbroken.”
For real-time updates, monitor AIP’s official channels or major Kashmiri news outlets, as developments could emerge post-strike.
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