Handwara, Nov. 22 -- Awami Itihaad Party (AIP) Senior Leader and MLA Langate Sheikh Khursheed while addressing mourners at the funeral congregation of his cousin Mushtaq Ahmad Sheikh, who is also the cousin brother of incarcerated MP Baramulla Er Rashid, said it was a tragedy upon a tragedy that Er Rashid despite being elected by a massive public mandate, was not allowed to attend the funeral prayers of his own brother.

"We call ourselves the world's largest democracy, yet an elected Member of Parliament is denied the basic human right to shoulder the bier of his own brother. This is not just injustice, this is deliberate cruelty, an assault on humanity itself," he said, lambasting the government for what he called "inhuman and vindictiv...