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Braving chill and terror, Kashmiris vote for better neighbourhood in first phase of civic polls after 27 years
MIR EHSAN & BASHAARAT MASOOD
BARAMULLA I KUPWARA, JANUARY 29: Defying bullets, a separatist boycott and harsh winter chill, Kashmiris came out in hundreds today to seek ‘‘aazadi’’ of a different kind—from garbage, choked drains, erratic power supply and muddy, potholed roads.
Municipal polls are on in the Valley after 27 years, and people seem to have grabbed the opportunity to bring democracy to their neighbourhoods. In the first phase today, Baramulla and Kupwara witnessed a surprise 71 per cent turnout in town areas and an overall of 49 per cent.
‘‘These elections have nothing to do with the Kashmir problem. We came out to vote because we want an end to our day-to-day problems,’’ says Rafiq Ahmad Shalla, a voter in Sopore’s Shalapora.
‘‘Everyone wants good roads, better power supply and basic civic amenities. If we are able to elect a good representative, we can have our own voice,’’ says Shalla.
Only Sopore—bastion of separatist politics and stronghold of hardline leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani—bucked the trend, as in previous polls, with a moderate 26 per cent turnout.
Yet, the heavy overall turnout is seen as a setback for separatists, who had issued a boycott call, warning that these elections would alter the disputed status of Kashmir. In fact, militants even killed a contestant, Noor din Sherwani, in Baramulla last week and attacked rallies to scare voters away.
But today, the people’s voice clearly distinguished ‘‘the separatist movement from these polls aimed at resolving daily problems’’.
‘‘I am voting for the first time because we can’t wait for solution of civic amenities till Azadi,’’ says Abdul Majid, 24, a shopkeeper in Sopore town. ‘‘We didn’t vote when separatist leaders called for a boycott during Parliamentary and Assembly elections. This time, it is different,’’ says Majid.
Today’s turnout was particularly impressive, considering the minimal security arrangements at polling booths unlike Assembly and Parliamentary elections.
At Para Mohalla in Pattan, dozens of men and women had started queuing up to vote from early this morning, braving the chilling winter. ‘‘Once a good candidate is elected, we will make him work for the development of our locality,’’ says Mohammad Ramzan, 46, among the first to cast his vote at Pattan’s Ward 4. ‘‘These councillors are local and understand the problems better than government officials. This makes a lot of difference,’’ says Ramzan.
Yet, Baramulla town threw up the biggest surprise. In sharp contrast to previous poll days, when people preferred to keep away from booths, there was a huge rush today.
At Azad Gunj, enthusiastic voters even fought each other to get inside the booths first—scenes that were hardly seen during the past 15 years in the Valley. In the 2002 Assembly elections, 90 voters had cast their ballot here but today the voter turnout was more than 70 per cent.
‘‘It is for the first time that civic elections are being held in our area. The condition of our drains and roads is pathetic. So far, nobody has come to our help. We don’t want our localities to be neglected,’’ says Shakeel Ahmad, an apple merchant.
And though the separatist parties and militant groups had vehemently oppossed these polls, the scare doesn’t seem to have worked.
‘‘Why should we be scared? We have come out to vote because we want improvement in our living conditions,’’ says Mohammad Yousuf, a shopkeeper of Muslimpeer neighbourhood in Sopore. ‘‘Even militants know these elections have nothing to do with Kashmir dispute.’’
However, fear did hold the key in places where militants had struck in the run-up to these polls. The turnout was dismal at Krankshivan Colony in Sopore, where a contestant Abdul Rashid Charoo was shot at last evening—of the 1023 voters, only 70 had voted.
But then, Handwara township provided the counter with a historic 88 per cent turnout. ‘‘In the last elections (2002 Assembly polls), we voted and a lot of our problems were solved. We have a lot of hope on our municipal representaives. We want better drains, roads and safe drinking water,’’ says Imtiyaz Ahmad, 18, a Class XI student and most importantly, a first-time voter.
http://www.indianexpress.com/full_st...ntent_id=63703
MIR EHSAN & BASHAARAT MASOOD
BARAMULLA I KUPWARA, JANUARY 29: Defying bullets, a separatist boycott and harsh winter chill, Kashmiris came out in hundreds today to seek ‘‘aazadi’’ of a different kind—from garbage, choked drains, erratic power supply and muddy, potholed roads.
Municipal polls are on in the Valley after 27 years, and people seem to have grabbed the opportunity to bring democracy to their neighbourhoods. In the first phase today, Baramulla and Kupwara witnessed a surprise 71 per cent turnout in town areas and an overall of 49 per cent.
‘‘These elections have nothing to do with the Kashmir problem. We came out to vote because we want an end to our day-to-day problems,’’ says Rafiq Ahmad Shalla, a voter in Sopore’s Shalapora.
‘‘Everyone wants good roads, better power supply and basic civic amenities. If we are able to elect a good representative, we can have our own voice,’’ says Shalla.
Only Sopore—bastion of separatist politics and stronghold of hardline leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani—bucked the trend, as in previous polls, with a moderate 26 per cent turnout.
Yet, the heavy overall turnout is seen as a setback for separatists, who had issued a boycott call, warning that these elections would alter the disputed status of Kashmir. In fact, militants even killed a contestant, Noor din Sherwani, in Baramulla last week and attacked rallies to scare voters away.
But today, the people’s voice clearly distinguished ‘‘the separatist movement from these polls aimed at resolving daily problems’’.
‘‘I am voting for the first time because we can’t wait for solution of civic amenities till Azadi,’’ says Abdul Majid, 24, a shopkeeper in Sopore town. ‘‘We didn’t vote when separatist leaders called for a boycott during Parliamentary and Assembly elections. This time, it is different,’’ says Majid.
Today’s turnout was particularly impressive, considering the minimal security arrangements at polling booths unlike Assembly and Parliamentary elections.
At Para Mohalla in Pattan, dozens of men and women had started queuing up to vote from early this morning, braving the chilling winter. ‘‘Once a good candidate is elected, we will make him work for the development of our locality,’’ says Mohammad Ramzan, 46, among the first to cast his vote at Pattan’s Ward 4. ‘‘These councillors are local and understand the problems better than government officials. This makes a lot of difference,’’ says Ramzan.
Yet, Baramulla town threw up the biggest surprise. In sharp contrast to previous poll days, when people preferred to keep away from booths, there was a huge rush today.
At Azad Gunj, enthusiastic voters even fought each other to get inside the booths first—scenes that were hardly seen during the past 15 years in the Valley. In the 2002 Assembly elections, 90 voters had cast their ballot here but today the voter turnout was more than 70 per cent.
‘‘It is for the first time that civic elections are being held in our area. The condition of our drains and roads is pathetic. So far, nobody has come to our help. We don’t want our localities to be neglected,’’ says Shakeel Ahmad, an apple merchant.
And though the separatist parties and militant groups had vehemently oppossed these polls, the scare doesn’t seem to have worked.
‘‘Why should we be scared? We have come out to vote because we want improvement in our living conditions,’’ says Mohammad Yousuf, a shopkeeper of Muslimpeer neighbourhood in Sopore. ‘‘Even militants know these elections have nothing to do with Kashmir dispute.’’
However, fear did hold the key in places where militants had struck in the run-up to these polls. The turnout was dismal at Krankshivan Colony in Sopore, where a contestant Abdul Rashid Charoo was shot at last evening—of the 1023 voters, only 70 had voted.
But then, Handwara township provided the counter with a historic 88 per cent turnout. ‘‘In the last elections (2002 Assembly polls), we voted and a lot of our problems were solved. We have a lot of hope on our municipal representaives. We want better drains, roads and safe drinking water,’’ says Imtiyaz Ahmad, 18, a Class XI student and most importantly, a first-time voter.
http://www.indianexpress.com/full_st...ntent_id=63703