Low turnout: A Message To Delhi

The recent parliamentary voting of Srinagar Constituency including the Ganderbal and Budgam districts was perhaps the first ever low voting turnout in the history of Kashmir. One could say that it was itself the voice, resentment and profound knavery among the people of the brutalised Kashmir valley. Undoubtedly, it was the crystal clear message, people of Kashmir strongly send to arrogant and maligned political corridors of New Delhi. It is pertinent to mention here that the majority of the people that is more than ( 92% ) had not casted a vote. Moreover, the recent elections will be remembered as the worst days for pseudo – democracy of India in Kashmir because as we have seen in other countries people have a choice either to caste their vote or to reject by their own choice or will but in Kashmir people are being killed and pumped with dozens of bullets even during the election days . It was the day when eight unarmed civilians were killed and more than 20 teenaged youth wounded at the hands of security persons in different areas of Srinagar , Budgam and Ganderbal. However, the most important question is why majority of the people boycotted from voting ? Why their is anger and deep alienations among people of Kashmir ? The answer is simple and clear that it is because of time and again political gimmicks , deceits , strangling of people’s aspirations which from time to time gave the rise of furious and volatile mass uprisings and defeated the Indian narratives in Kashmir. Else, It is because of everyday civilian killings, curfews , arrest warrants , beating and humiliation of young youth , rape and molestation of our mothers and sisters, violation of human rights etc. Moreover, the mass uprisings of 2008, 2009, 2010 , hanging of Afzal Guroo and the recent bloody, volatile and festering outburst started after the killing of Hizb Commander Burhan Muzaffar Wani which also played a vital role to defeat the Indian narratives across Kashmir and enkindled the deep aspirations for freedom among the people of Kashmir . Yes, it is true that the trend has been completely changed because the young youth who are now ruling the streets of Kashmir sended the clear message to all mainstream parties from Srinagar to New Delhi that they will not compromise or sell their conscience. Let for the sake of an argument if Kashmir was really one of the part of India then instead of curfew, internet ban , muzzling of press , daily arbitrary arrests , straight bullets and pellets on unarmed civilians people should have been free to exercise their freedoms and liberties . I firmly believe that there is no democracy and good governance in Kashmir rather the old ‘ Democratic Tyrants ‘ are doing everything in the name of democracy in Kashmir. Indeed, they are doing whatever they like.

The recent poll turnout is a clear message to the mainstream parties of Srinagar and New Delhi that Kashmir is not the issue of ‘ Sadak , Pani and Bijli ‘ but it is the long time undecided dispute which needs immediate sincere political dialogue between the conflict parties including the principal stakeholders of Kashmir. 

Back to recent polls , It is pertinent to note here that the recent poor poll turnout is not only the defeat of Indian democracy in Kashmir and but also indicates the haplessness and deep failure of the traditional political vultures from Mir Qaism to Farooq Abdullaha , Omer to Mehbooba Mufti, from decades they have failed to fulfill the true and real aspirations of the pople of Kashmir. Indeed, people have no faith on Indian political system and its foul and unfaithful Democratic setup because of their repeated political gimmicks and broken promises. May be things would have been different in Kashmir if India had accepted the political reality of Kashmir initially. But unfortunately to loot and pulverise the wealth of Kashmir, India is this unfortunate land by use of force and by barrel of the gun. It’s very unfortunate part from the political corridors of New Delhi that they have not learnt any lesson from the past mistakes ,especially from the recent bloody and suppressive mass uprising which led death of more than a hundred unarmed civilians ,tens and thousands injured ,hundreds lost their eye sight and thousands were booked under draconian Public Safety Act act. But despite India’s repressive and shameless strategies the word ‘Azaadi’ is roaming in every cranny of the valley; people from North to South Kashmir are collectively shouting the word ‘ Azaadi’ or ‘ Freedom ‘ from Indian rule. By way of conclusion, The recent poll turnout is a clear message to the mainstream parties of Srinagar and New Delhi that Kashmir is not the issue of ‘ Sadak , Pani and Bijli ‘ but it is the long time undecided dispute which needs immediate sincere political dialogue between the conflict parties including the principal stakeholders of Kashmir. So it is high time for both to understand the gravity and the furiousty of the prolonged conflict and the deep aspirations of the people yearning for freedom. Before it gets too late there is need of an hour to resolve Kashmir conflict and respect the human lives.
(The author a student at Islamic University of Sciences & Technology (IUAST) Awantipora writes on current political events in Kashmir exclusively for “Kashmir Horizon”.The views of the author are his personal)