Er Rashid misleading people of north Kashmir, says PDP’s Sopore candidate

Irfan Ali accuses AIP chief of striking deal with central govt, focusing on personal gains

Srinagar: Irfan Ali, the youth president of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and candidate for the Sopore assembly seat, has accused Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) president of misleading the people of north Kashmir, saying that Engineer Rashid is more focused on personal political gains than on the welfare of the people. Irfan criticised Er Rashid’s “Tihar Ka Badla Vote Se” campaign, which was prominent during the parliamentary elections. “Voters are now more aware of such tactics and will cast their ballots more cautiously this time around,” he said.He also accused Rashid of striking a deal with the central government, particularly with the Ministry of Home Affairs.The PDP candidate further slammed Rashid’s recent political activities, including his campaigning in south Kashmir. “Instead of focusing on south Kashmir, he should address the plight of youth in Kupwara jails, especially those from Sopore who had once supported him,” he said.Commenting on the aftermath of Article 370’s abrogation, Ali expressed dissatisfaction, particularly regarding the region’s infrastructure and healthcare. However, he acknowledged improvements in road conditions. He described the decision to revoke Article 370 as “dictatorial” and against the will of the Kashmiri people.On the National Conference-Indian National Congress (NC-INC) alliance, Irfan said previous experiences have shown it to be ineffective, citing the hardships Kashmiris have faced, from graveyards to jails.He said his campaign would prioritise the youth, understanding their struggles with unemployment and depression as many educated individuals face minimal opportunities.“I am standing for the youth because they have expectations from me. If elected, I will focus on addressing their challenges,” Irfan said. He urged voters to make informed choices and select candidates who can genuinely represent their concerns in the assembly.Irfan appealed to the people of Sopore to compare candidates and vote for the one who truly understands and advocates for their needs—(KNO)