Shehla Rashid quits electoral politics, opposes BDC polls in Kashmir

Six months after her foray into mainstream politics, former JNU student leer Shehla Rashid on Wednesday anunced she is quitting electoral politics in Kashmir following move to hold Block Development Council elections, saying she can't be a party to exercise of legitimising "suppression" of people.

Shehla Rashid quits politics

Rashid, who became a prominent face of student activism following a controversy over a 2016 event at Jawaharlal Nehru University during which alleged anti-national slogans were raised, h earlier this year joined Jammu and Kashmir People's Movement floated by former IAS officer Shah Faisal.

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Shehla Rashid opposes J&K polls

In a statement, former JNUSU vice-president said she was compelled to dissociate "with electoral mainstream in Kashmir" due to central government's move to hold Block Development Council elections later this month in Jammu and Kashmir, which she termed as a "sham electoral exercise".

"I cant be party to exercise of legitimizing brutal suppression of my people. I would, refore, like to make clear my dissociation with electoral mainstream in Kashmir. I will continue to be an activist and raise my voice against injustice on all fronts that do t require a compromise and I'll continue to put my energies behind Supreme Court petition seeking restoration of special status of state, and reversal of bifurcation of state," she said in statement.

Restrictions have been imposed since August 5 in Valley after Centre scrapped Jammu and Kashmir's special status under Article 370 of Constitution and bifurcated state into two Union Territories.

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Shehla Rashid's tussle with govt

Rashid said she h joined politics as she believed it was "possible to deliver both justice as well as good governance, and also work for resolution of Kashmir issue as per wishes of people of Jammu and Kashmir". She claimed political leers in state are being forced to contest elections only on issue of restoration of statehood, and asked to keep quiet about Article 370 and bifurcation of state.

"It is clear that participation in any political activity in Kashmir requires a compromise, she claimed.

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Rashid said government keeps inviting youth to join mainstream but alleged its actions have only served to push people out of mainstream.  former JNU Students Union leer's anuncement of quitting mainstream politics came on day Congress party said it would t contest Block Development Council polls.

Rashid was a prominent face of student movement in 2016 after arrest of JNU student leer Kanhaiya Kumar in connection with an event on JNU campus against hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru where anti-national slogans were allegedly raised. She was charged with sedition last month for her tweets levelling allegations  against armed forces in Valley.

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