Addressing a press conference, Sugra, who emphasized that she is not a politician and only wants her parents released from jail, explained that she has been forced into the public eye โdue to compulsion,โ with the unusual circumstances placing a heavy burden on her shoulders.
โI have been subjected to psychological tactics, with Omar Abdullah leading the charge when he mentioned my father, saying that people in jail are filing papers against him. Filing the papers was my decision,โ she said.
โDuring the Lok Sabha elections, Omar told Engineer Rashidโs son that if he had known they were running, he wouldnโt have filed his papers.โ
Sugra explained that Omarโs statement was the reason she decided to file papers on behalf of her father, hoping that, if he won, her father might be released from jail.
โOne of the NC spokespersons, Ifra Jan, openly called my father a thief; it was like a stab to my chest,โ she said. โWe are helpless, and we leave it in the hands of people and the Almighty.โ
Regarding AIPโs chief, Engineer Sheikh Rashid, Sugra said she had expected AIP to voluntarily give the mandate to her father in Langate.
โWe were in contact with them since my fatherโs papers were rejected in Zainapora. We wanted Engineer Rashid to support us because we hardly know anyone from Beerwah and Ganderbal. We thought Langate would make a difference.โ
She added that she had been in touch with Engineer Rashidโs brother, Sheikh Khurseed, as well as Inam-un-Nabi, AIPโs spokesperson. โWe were assured the matter would be considered, but we never received a response.โ
She concluded by questioning, โIf it was โjail ka badla vote seโ during the Lok Sabha elections, which Engineer Rashid won, then why not now?โ
