New Delhi: Engineer Abdul Rasheed, recently elected from the Baramulla constituency in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, was sworn in today as a member of the Lok Sabha, the lower house of India’s Parliament.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Rasheed, who has been detained in New Delhi’s Tihar Jail under a controversial case, was temporarily released to attend the swearing-in ceremony. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla administered the oath of office. Engineer Rasheed’s participation in the ceremony follows a special parole granted by Delhi’s Patiala House Court on July 2, authorized by the Indian National Investigation Agency (NIA), under strict conditions including no media contact.
Engineer Rasheed, who won the parliamentary seat while incarcerated, secured a significant victory, defeating National Conference’s Omar Abdullah by over 200,000 votes. His election is seen as a significant political statement by voters in his constituency, particularly concerning his advocacy for a referendum in Jammu and Kashmir.