Srinagar, Sep 27: Incarcerated Member of Parliament from Baramulla, Er Rashid, has written “a symbolic letter to the Mahatma Gandhi”, addressing him affectionately as “Bapu.”
The letter, sent from Tihar Jail through the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, blends reverence for Gandhi’s ideals with anguish over Kashmir’s current reality, said a press release. AIP Chief Spokesman Inam Un Nabi made the letter public in which Er Rashid begins with a universal appeal: “Adab Bapu, please accept my best wishes on the eve of your birthday. Not only India but the entire world is in desperate need of peace.” He laments that while Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violence is more relevant than ever, nations across the globe directly or indirectly, continue to indulge in violence, even while claiming to fight for peace. Criticising the “hollow invocations of Gandhi,” he writes: “Almost every country willingly or unwillingly contributes to violence, but makes ridiculous claims of fighting for peace. Those who speak most of your message, Bapu, hardly match their words with deeds.”
The MP goes on to highlight the various laws: “Those who speak against UAPA terrorism , prefer silence as they are scared of the law of the land. Thousands lie in graves, men in prisons lose their lives and thousands of us are in jails because of the misdeeds of Partition, for which nobody takes responsibility.”
Er Rashid also acknowledges the plight of Kashmiri Pandits and border residents: “Kashmiri Pandits, who by your own confession were protected by Kashmiri Muslims at the cost of their own lives, are still living as refugees. Men, women and children from border areas continue to live displaced lives near the LoC—second homes for those who cannot return.”
