“Will Donate My Salary for School Reconstruction in Iran”: Baramulla MP Tells Parliament | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: Member of Parliament from Baramulla, Engineer Rashid, on Tuesday announced in the Lok Sabha that he would donate his one month’s salary for the reconstruction of a school in Iran where more than 100 children were killed in a recent strike.

Speaking during the discussion on Finance Grants, Rashid made a humanitarian appeal, stating that “humanity must rise above political boundaries” when innocent lives are lost. He said his contribution, though small, reflected a collective responsibility towards affected families.

He also highlighted the response in Kashmir, saying people had come forward in large numbers to support victims by contributing whatever they could. He urged the Government of India to adopt a compassionate and balanced approach in global matters.

During his address, Rashid raised concerns over the Indus Waters Treaty, stating that Jammu and Kashmir has suffered losses due to restrictions under the agreement. He called for a special compensation package, particularly for regions with untapped hydropower potential.

The MP further expressed concern over reported attempts to remove or target historical figures such as Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, Allama Iqbal and Muhammad Ali Jinnah from public discourse, terming such actions unjust and warning against rewriting history.

Rashid also called for the formation of a high-level national commission to investigate alleged disproportionate wealth accumulated over the past three decades by politicians, bureaucrats, police officials and sections of the media. He said recovery of such assets could significantly reduce inequality and benefit the public.

He raised the issue of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), urging major corporations to ensure that funds reach underserved and backward regions, including parts of Baramulla. He said targeted interventions in infrastructure, education and connectivity could transform remote and border areas.

The MP also reiterated the demand for restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and called for focused development in backward regions.

The school strike in Iran, which triggered global condemnation, occurred on February 28 during a US-Israel military campaign, resulting in the deaths of a large number of civilians, most of them schoolchildren.