Kupwara, May 19: Member of Parliament (MP) Er Rashid Tuesday joined the funeral of his deceased father at their native village in the Mawer Payeen area of Handwara, where hundreds of people gathered to participate in the last rites.
The funeral prayer was led by his other son and MLA Langate Sheikh Khursheed, as a large number of funeral attendees assembled to offer their last respects to the deceased. Among those present were senior political figures including Additional General Secretary of National Conference and Rajya Sabha member Chowdhary Mohammad Ramzan, senior National Conference leader and former MLA Langate Sharif-ud-Din Shariq, and several leaders of AIP.
Locals from across the area also turned up in large numbers, reflecting widespread sympathy with the bereaved family. Er Rashid, on the occasion, addressed the gathering and expressed gratitude to the people for their support and prayers during this difficult time.
Pertinently, Er Rashid’s father Khazir Mohammad Sheikh was born in 1940 and was nearly 86 years old. He retired as a senior teacher from government service about two decades ago. Known as a dedicated and proficient mathematics teacher, he taught students across various parts of Kashmir.
Earlier Tuesday morning, Er Rashid was released from Tihar Jail on interim bail and directly reached Srinagar Airport before proceeding towards his ancestral village to participate in the funeral rites of his father. Addressing mourners at the funeral prayers, Er Rashid made an emotional appeal asking people to learn lessons from death and reflect upon the futility of hatred, animosity and revenge in human life.
He said his struggle has never been against individuals or ordinary people but against injustice and systems that allow injustice to flourish. Recalling an incident from his days as a social activist before entering electoral politics, Er Rashid narrated how authorities had once announced a reward to capture a man-eating animal alive instead of killing it so that its violent behaviour could be changed.
Drawing a parallel, he said if society can attempt to reform even a dangerous animal, then human beings who may have committed mistakes also deserve opportunities for reform, dignity and justice rather than permanent hatred and exclusion.
Meanwhile, AIP Chief Spokesperson Inam Un Nabi thanked the authorities, civil administration and police administration for smoothly managing the massive gathering and maintaining order during the funeral proceedings.
