Lok Sabha member Sheikh Abdul Rashid on Tuesday, marking his first appearance in the parliament after taking an oath as an MP last year, demanded an "in-depth probe" into the recent death of two civilians in Jammu and Kashmir.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Rashid, also known as Engineer Rashid, an independent member from Baramulla claimed that two persons Wasim Ahmad Mir and Makhan Din were killed "allegedly by forces" and demanded a full investigation into the matter.
"Hamara khoon sasta nahin hain (our blood is not cheap)," he said.
Rashid was granted custody parole by Delhi High Court on Monday allowing him to attend Parliament on February 11 and 13.
The Baramulla MP has been in Tihar Jail since 2019, accused of funding separatist and terror groups.
Rashid also demanded construction of a tunnel to access far-flung areas of Keran, Karnah and Machil in Kupwara which remain cut-off from the rest of the country for six months.
On Rashid's first appearance, Shiekh Khursheed, MLA Langate and younger brother of Rashid, said that he attended the proceedings of Lok Sabha for the first time after his election.
“He was brought into custody from Tihar jail this morning to attend the proceedings, “he said.
Before attending the session, he was taken to the RML hospital under police security on Tuesday morning for a routine health check-up, jail sources told reporters.
Rashid, who has been lodged in Tihar jail since 2019 in a terror-funding case, had sought interim bail or custody parole to represent his constituency in Lok Sabha. “He will be taken to Parliament from the hospital,” the sources said.
Rashid’s parole is saddled with certain riders, including not using a cellphone or the internet or addressing the media or any person except to his limited responsibility as an MP.
The Baramulla MP is facing allegations that he funded separatists and terror groups in Jammu and Kashmir.
Shortly after he was given the relief by the court, Jammu and Kashmir MLA and brother of Rashid Engineer, Khursheed Ahmad Sheikh, expressed his happiness after the Baramulla MP got custody parole for two days for attending the ongoing Parliament budget session.
He said his brother was on a hunger strike for 11 days, which ended with him getting a two-day parole.
“It’s a matter of happiness for us. For the last 11 days, he was on a hunger strike. I am celebrating this moment as he is ending his hunger strike.”
Also read: Delhi HC allows jailed MP Rashid to attend Parliament session
He further expressed that the people of Baramulla will be represented now, adding, “Also, the voices of 18 lakh people to whom he represents, now their voices will be heard in the parliament…”
The bench, led by Justice Vikas Mahajan, stated that Rashid Engineer would be escorted by police officials under tight security to and from the parliament.
Justice Mahajan remarked, “Custody parole is being granted for two days, as he does not have a remedy at this time.”
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