Engineer_Rashid
Engineer Rashid
Indian politician
Engineer Sheikh Abdul Rashid is a Kashmiri politician and a former Member of the Legislative Assembly in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir (MLA), from the Langate constituency in Handwara. Rasheed is currently Member of Parliament from Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency. He is the founder and 'patron' of the Jammu and Kashmir Awami Ittehad Party.[1][2]
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Engineer Rashid | |
|---|---|
 Engineer Rashid speaking in the J&K Legislative Assembly | |
| Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha | |
| Assumed office June 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Mohammad Akbar Lone |
| Constituency | Baramulla |
| Member of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly | |
| In office 25 December 2008 – 12 November 2018 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Sheikh Abdul Rashid (1967-08-19) 19 August 1967 (age 56) Mawar, Langate |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Political party | Awami Ittehad Party |
| Alma mater | Government Degree College Sopore |
Rashid transitioned from a career in construction engineering to politics in 2008, winning the Langate constituency as an independent candidate in both the 2008 and 2014 legislative assembly elections.[3] Rashid subsequently established the Jammu and Kashmir Awami Ittehad Party. Despite facing imprisonment on terror-funding charges, he secured a significant victory over former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, underscoring his substantial grassroots support and political influence in the region.[4]
In the year 2005, Rashid was arrested by SOG in Srinagar 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 on humanitarian grounds. According to Rashid he was arrested by motley group of counter-insurgents that worked closely with the State police and took him to an interrogation centre, where he was "interrogated." After five months of custody, he negotiated his release, paying up Rs. 3.0 lakhs by selling his cow,goats and father's property. He has now filed his nomination form for contesting 2024 parliamentary election from jail. [5]
On 8 October 2015 Engineer Rashid was assaulted 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 with a view to oppose the controversial central Government order banning the consumption of beef in India.[6]
He was also attacked with black ink in Press Club New Delhi by BJP cadets a day after his critical comments regarding the lynching of a Kashmiri truck driver in Udhampur.[7][8]
- "Engineer Rashid aka Abdul Rashid Sheik(Independent(IND)):Constituency- LANGATE(KUPWARA) - Affidavit Information of Candidate:". www.myneta.info. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
- MLA Rashid launches new party, Hindustan Times, 12 June 2013.
- "How Langate's Engineer Rashid battled counter-insurgency to reduce police intervention in peoples' lives". timesofindia-economictimes. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
- "Who is Engineer Rashid? Jailed J&K leader headed for win over Omar Abdullah". India Today. 4 June 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- "I'm the most misunderstood MLA in India: Engineer Rashid". The Hindu. 22 October 2015. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
- Shankar, Aranya (20 October 2017). "Ink attack on Jammu and Kashmir MLA Rashid Engineer over beef party". Indian Express. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
- "Ink attack on Jammu & Kashmir MLA Engineer Rashid who had hosted a 'beef party' - The Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
- "Ink Attack on J&K Lawmaker Engineer Rashid, Who Hosted 'Beef Party'". NDTV.com. Retrieved 27 October 2015.