Srinagar, July 24 (KNS) : Awami Itihaad Party (AIP) has confirmed that a crucial hearing is scheduled for tomorrow in the Delhi High Court regarding the exorbitant travel and security charges being imposed on jailed AIP President and Parliament Member Er Rashid for attending the ongoing session of Parliament.
In a Statement issued to KNS, AIP Chief Spokesperson Inam Un Nabi stated, “Engineer Rashid, the elected representative from Baramulla, is being charged over ?1.45 lakh per day simply to fulfill his constitutional duties in Parliament. These charges are not only unaffordable but also unjustified.”
He further noted, “During his previous interim bail, granted to allow him to campaign and attend Parliament—no such charges were levied. The current imposition appears arbitrary and raises serious questions about equal access to democratic institutions.”
Due to these excessive financial conditions, Er Rashid has been unable to attend the current session of Parliament, effectively silencing the voice of his constituency at a crucial time.
Highlighting the urgency of the issue, Inam Un Nabi said, “We have approached the Delhi High Court seeking interim relief.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelThe Baramulla constituency, which Er Rashid represents, includes sensitive areas along the Line of Control (LOC) that were severely affected during Operation Sindoor. Moreover, being an elected MP, it is his constitutional and moral responsibility to listen to the genuine grievances of those who suffered immense losses during the operation and to work toward their redressal in order to bring lasting peace, harmony and prosperity to the region. His continued absence has created a vacuum in effective redressal mechanisms for public hardships and the people are feeling the consequences of this democratic deficit.”
Inam also revealed how the family had previously managed to cover the travel costs: “In March, travel expenses for just six days amounted to over ?8.7 lakh, which was raised through crowdfunding. Expecting the family to now pay more than ?17 lakh for 12 days is simply unreasonable. Er Rashid is an accused, not a convict. The double standards are glaring—prisoners transported for court hearings or medical reasons are not subjected to such charges.”(KNS)