MP-elect Jailed Kashmiri political leader Engineer Rashid is scheduled to take oath as a Lok Sabha member today. His family and members of the Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) that Rashid leads have already arrived in Delhi to witness the event.
On Tuesday, a Delhi court granted Rashid two-hour custody parole after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) allowed him to take the oath.
Prince Parvez Shah, General Secretary of the AIP, confirmed that several party leaders and Rashid's family members were in Delhi for the ceremony.
He said while interacting with reporters, “For now, we have been informed that only family members will be allowed to participate in the oath-taking event today.”
He mentioned that Rashid’s sons, Abrar and Asrar, who managed his campaign during the Lok Sabha elections, are also present in Delhi.
Under the constitutional provision, the swearing-in ceremony will occur in Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla’s chamber.
Rashid, 56, a two-time MLA from the Langate Assembly constituency in Kupwara district, first contested elections in 2008.
Rashid has been in jail since 2019 after being charged by the NIA for his alleged involvement in a terror funding case. He is currently lodged in Tihar Jail.
Last month, he moved to the Delhi court seeking interim bail or custody parole to take his oath.
Rashid's party leaders and supporters remain hopeful and have shown solidarity by being present in Delhi at this significant moment.
The politician's temporary release marks a critical point in his political journey, highlighting the intersection of legal battles and democratic responsibilities.
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