Jailed MP-elect Sheikh Abdul Rashid aka Engineer Rashid has rubbed salt into Delhi’s wound by calling his victory a referendum against “oppression”.

Rashid’s victory is seen as an affront to the BJP-led government at the Centre as he is detained under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in Tihar jail. He was arrested in August 2019.

“Thanking the masses of North Kashmir, jailed AIP (Awami Itehaad Party) leader Er Rasheed has called his victory a people’s victory and a referendum against all sorts of oppression against the people of J&K,” the party said. It is his first message after the victory.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had hailed the “record turnout” in Kashmir elections and “enthusiastic participation” of people in these elections as a “vibrant testament to their democratic spirit”. However, the results have caused great discomfort to Delhi after INDIA partner National Conference won two seats while the jailed Engineer won Baramulla by a massive margin.

Rashid trounced NC vice-president Omar Abdullah and People’s Conference president Sajad Lone.

His party said Rashid spoke to his lawyer and through him assured the people of Jammu and Kashmir that he would continue to represent the masses “who have been suffering at all fronts since decades”.

“Let the Modi government and everyone who matters understand the difference between the silence of the graveyard and real peace,” the party quoted him as saying. “The result is an opportunity to introspect and revisit the policy of controlling Jammu and Kashmir through remote control devices and accept the ground realities.”

The jailed leader said Kashmiris were not enemies of India nor proxies of any other country but by “creating false and fake narratives they are being portrayed as villains which is unacceptable”.

Rashid cautioned Kashmiris against all those forces who need nothing but power.

He said the AIP was willing to forget the bitterness with political rivals as it wanted to unite Kashmiris to take them out of a sense of defeat.

“Kashmiris deserve to be listened to at all levels by other stakeholders not as beggars but as citizens and main stakeholders of Jammu and Kashmir. Let us all forget our personal egos and understand that the sufferings and aspirations of Kashmiris are much bigger than our personal agendas,” he added.

Political parties in Kashmir have asked the Centre to respect the people’s verdict and release Rashid.

No politician of repute in Kashmir had called for Rashid’s release before his win. He has polled more votes than Omar and Sajad put together.

According to Election Commission of India figures, Engineer Rashid bagged 4,72,481 votes, Omar 2,68,339 and Sajad 1,73,239 votes. Omar and Sajad together polled 4,41,578.