Gulzar Wani
After hit by the disastrous floods, Kashmir was left in lurch soon after Jhelum receded. The commercial establishments got a jolt and income dipped drastically. Almost everyone got affected directly or indirectly. The estimates of loss were around Rs 3 trillion, besides, 300 lives were lost.
In the same space and time, the elections were held as per the schedule, without giving a damn about the flood affected people. Without caring for their welfare and without taking into consideration: the process of election might become a hurdle in giving relief to the people.
As we know, since decades, the problems of Kashmiris have been bijli, sadak, paani and rozgaar. The same haven’t been solved since ages. All of these are going to be sorted out only when Kashmir finds a right leader rather than the people who just give speech, make promises and when it comes to act, they are supposed to be at the rear end. Kashmir needs a politician who will really work for them, stand with people, and strives to solve their problems without the appetite of money.
Back to elections, in first two phases, the turnout was over 70 per cent which was higher than the Jharkhand where people also faced the boycott calls. The people of Kashmir came in droves and voted for democracy, embraced it well, voted to elect their leaders, for effective governance and to get their day-to-day problems solved.
The people of Kashmir just voted for local issues rather than anything else. They want to see a change as a whole. This time once again they voted and had faith in the political system. And only time will tell us, will it bear some fruitful results or not?
But it is another part of the story how ridiculously the Indian media took the turnout like it was a referendum. On the evening of first phase of elections, I read in an online edition of a top Indian newspaper, “Record polling, J-K votes for azadi from separatists.” It was saddening to see such story. If this is the truth, then what makes you to fear plebiscite?!
The Indian media is indeed very obsessive about the poll percentage in this election. And, the same is driving people angry. Don’t they know, what has been done to Kashmiris in the past? Kashmiris haven’t forgotten a single bit of that. The spirit and love for freedom will stay here until that very sun will rise.
While looking at present situation in Kashmir one only hopes for the situation to change and some productive decisions will be taken for the betterment of people. A common Kashmiri wishes that some new initiatives will be taken in which all the parties would come up together, work together, leaving differences aside and bring some respite to Kashmiris. And, create job opportunities to the unemployed youths who are tired by submitting the forms of SASB and paying the tax (form fees) for being unemployed.
Moreover, the rehabilitation process must be done at speedy level so that the flood hit families will have a sigh of relief. The flood torn economy of Kashmir must see some growth which is badly hit. I hope all this loss to be compensated at speedy level, so that the people who voted will get some respite.
(The author is the student of The Business School, University of Kashmir and can be reached at [email protected])
