Srinagar Parliamentary Seat : Subtleties and Surmises

Srinagar Parliamentary Seat: Subtleties and Surmises
Rameez Makhdoomi

The prestigious Srinagar Parliamentary constituency comprising of district Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal went to polls on 18th April.
The contest for the seat is triangular with National Conference leader and former Chief Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah, People’s Conference leader Irfan Raza Ansari and People’s Democratic Party leader Agha Mohsin.
Low turnout, National Conference having upper hand, clashes, voting machine defaults at some places defined the election.

At 9.30am in the morning we found voting machines developed default in the beginning at Hakabazar were 198 votes were cast.
Total votes 626 pandan eleven
Male 318 female 308 . Voting Machines were being rectified there when we reached.
An aged voter gave important inputs.
Mohammad Sidiq, a 72 year old voter waiting for his turn at Pandan Nowhatta stated ” I have voted number of times and would like to make it clear that here only national conference rules the roost with competition at all. We vote NC for progressive and peaceful Kashmir. ”
On the other hand of the spectrum, Farooq Abdullah & Omar Abdullah cast their votes at a polling station in Munshi Bagh Area in Srinagar LS constituency. Omar Abdullah stated : “Now that LS polls are due to conclude, we can only hope that Centre together with EC give people of J&K and elected govt which is their right.
He Criticized the BJP’s choice of giving ticket to Sadhvi Pragayi .
The turnout at the end of the day was about 14 percent which was seven percent more than the bi election of 2017 but twelve percent less than 2014 polls.

Although in some pockets voting was strong, at Bemina G we saw 232 votes polled out of 958 just within three hours of polling.
Young Political analyst Mushtaq Ul Haq Ahmad Sikandar stated :” The election for Srinagar parliamentary seat will witness a strong fight. With parties like PDP and PC fielding candidates like Agha Mohsin and Irfan Raza Ansari, the Shia vote is bound to get divided particularly in district Budgam, among PDP, PC and NC. But given the traditional network of National Conference, Dr Farooq Abdullah seems to emerge victorious. Further NC has campaigned on the issue of safeguarding the special status of Kashmir, while decrying and alleging that any vote cast in favour of PC or PDP is synonymous to be going in the kitty of BJP. So the chances of win are tilted in favour of Dr Farooq Abdullah.”

“”Is Election and Voting more precious than Human lives

“”is Election and Voting more precious than Human lives””

Showkat Dar and Zubair Ahmad

Let me hit the road straight about the bloody election At Handwara in North kashmir where 7 yrs old boy namely Owais from Manigam Langate area became a victim of election massacre and democracy.
It has been rightly said that Death keeps no calendar but in kashmir every death has now fixed and decided Calender during the time of political rallies,Political Campaign voting  days etc and the symbol over substance is that the credit goes to the BJP who dont have any peaceful method and red pencil polcy for Kashmir .Kashmir is a land of hartals and perpetual killing and unrest.Is vote, election more precious than the human lives. The greatest resource on the earth is Human resource without it is absent their is no world and planet at all. Every Holy scripture defined the utmost importance of the human beings on the blue planet. Now its crystal clear that bullet is stronger than ballot.You get astonished why i am talking like that its all just because of that I am human being with emotions. On 11th april The day of Election turned into Bloodshed and maintains the proverb where the blood is monotonous a settlement is known as Kashmir. Everyday kashmir is witness to blood shed as it lives in bloodshed and dies in bloodshed. Now the term Peace changed its definition its  presence of war and bloodshed not like absence of war and bloodshed. Yes i am talking about My innocent brother owais from manigam Handwara who became a victim of election or voting massacre. 

For the entire day the phase one of the Lok Sabha elections were peaceful. As the officials started closing the EVMs, there was tension in Handwara where one minor boy was reportedly killed. 

With elections kicking off in India, New Delhi has intensified its
crackdown in the Kashmir region. On April 11, on the day of
polling in the baramulla consistuency. A class seventh student Owais Ahmad was killed in
Forces pellet firing in Mandigam village of Langate area of
north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, the residents of the village
Friday demanded a thorough probe into the killing and stern
Punishment to force personnel involved in minor’s killing.
People in large numbers visited the house of Owais today to express their sympathies and solidarity with the family over
killing of minor boy in forces pellet firing yesterday evening.
They said Owais was innocent and not involved in stone
pelting. He was targeted by the forces personnel outside his
home.
Owais was outside his home and playing with his friends. The
Forces personnel fired pellets at him from point blank range,
causing severe injuries to him in head, skull, chest and face.
The boy later died while being shifted to the hospital, the locals said. The neighbours of Owais said those at the helm should
investigate the matter thoroughly and award stern ppunishment to the force personnel for killing minor boy.

“A judicial probe must be ordered into the killing and the culprits should be booked and punished,” they said. Owais’s father said, “We have seen such kind of situation in
the Valley. Many youth have been killed so far but no action
has been taken against force personnel. Authorities had ordered probe into many civilian killings but the inquiries did
not yield any result and none was punished.

Meanwhile, a complete shutdown was observed in Manigam
village and adjacent village of Langate today to protest killing
of class 7th student.
All the shops and business establishments remained closed
while traffic was also thin on the roads…

Owais killing adds blood to the day-long peaceful exercise
that, according to officials saw the participation of more than 34.6 per cent of the electors of the north Kashmir’s Baramulla
Lok Sabha constituency. This segment has 15 assembly seats
and is spread over districts of Kupwara, Baramulla and
Bandipore. It has three of its assembly segments located on
The Line of Control – Gurez (Bandipore), Uri (Baramulla) and
Karnah (Kupwara). All the border belts participated in huge
numbers. Interestingly, however, the 2014 participation was better at 39.6 per cent. The district wise current participation was 24.02 per cent for Baramulla, 31.83 per cent for Bandipore and 51.7 per cent for Kupwara. All the three districts had better
participation in 2014 with Kupwara topping the list at 63 percent.
Despite the vastness of the constituency, its epicentre was in
Kupwara, mostly in the Handwara-Langate belts which are
close to each other. It was because Sajjad Lone’s
peoples Conference is primarily based in Handwara and
Engineer Rasheed has been representing Langate for the last
two terms. At a few places, there were reports of stone pelting as well. These include Palhalan and a few areas in Rafiabad. Reports said that SMHS received at least three cases of pellet injuries
which were treated.

During the peak campaigning, it was said that the main contest is between the National Conference’s Mohammad
Akbar Lone and Peoples Conference. But the voting pattern
suggested that it might be a square contest with Engineer
Rasheed and PDP candidate also in the ring.

“I think the first time voters have helped Rasheed in great
numbers,” one voter who had gone from Srinagar to vote said.

“He represents the sentiment but lacked a strategy to the
extent that at most of the polling stations, he had no polling agents but still people voted.” The voter said that the sentiment was so strong that “in one area, NC drove the
voters to the polling station but they voted for Engineer.”
Even at places where Engineer had not gone, there were voters
who said they had voted for him. It might be his social media
reach that might have helped him to an extent.

Handwara like its adjacent belts has always voted in huge
numbers. On Thursday, however, there were not many
Serpentine lines but voters came in small groups, voted and
left. In fact, the political parties had hired a number of vehicles
To drive the voters – especially women to the polling booths,
and after voting dropping them at home.

The polling was brisk in Kupwara, Handawara and Langate. But the crowds started thinning as one took the Rafiabad road
For Baramulla. There were quite a few people in polling
stations and around them in most of the Rafiabad belt. In
Baramulla, it was almost deserted and Sopore was exhibiting
the same traditional boycott that is usually seen in all kind of
elections. Even in Sangrama, there were not many voters in
The polling stations. Unlike Palhalan, there were lot many voters in long lines in Pattan.

Tangmarg was slightly better. The lines were mostly of the young men and they were flaunting their indelible ink marks on their fingers and insisting they voted for Engineer Rasheed.

In Sevar village of Lolab and the Manan wanis area scene was unlike Panchayat polls
when people stayed indoors, this time there was brisk polling
As people wanted to keep BJP out. “We don’t want our kids to
be killed by bullets and pellets,” said a local.

Dear india  i am not anti india At least The govt should stop this bloodshed in kashmir.Election is not more than human lives.Hence human blood can not use for election win win system Here in kashmir Blood is monotonus This should be stopped before it reaches point of no return.Yes its politicians who start wars not the military. 

sum up :When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers most.Yes For people these politicians became of murderers and pirates in order to gain more and more Political  power. Yes present political system is responsible for all this unrest in kashmir.This is common thinking of every Kashmiri.Lets stop this bloodshed and lets give a peace chance here.India and its Military forces must be intelligent to realize the importance of human life and refuse to act negatively .
Dear india We want Kashmir in peace not in Pieces.Untill and unless this bloodshed situation cant be stopped in kashmir than the common people every child would rise up in arms against those perpetrators of bloodshed and have a befitting revenge..

Dear india come and see the blood through the streets come and see if this bloodshed cant be stooped before point of no return than their every dead child rises a gun with eyes but from every crime are born bullets.
.Hello indian army and chowkidar stop this all and lets give a peace chance here because only we kashmiris are bearing the loss.

Writers Dar showkat and Zubair Ahmad from

Handwara.

PUBG: Latest ugly and treacherous cowardice

PUBG : Latest ugly and treacherous cowardice…
Umar Bashir
Where u remain Active in others battle ground correspondingly and substantially prone gamer remains unusual and inactive for own future Field.””

A lot of people especially the youngsters are taking out their smartphones to take check in the location before they eat. This can annoy those who are at the same table or people who are less privileged. After that they just clicked on the PUBG icon and start the video game and remain stay connected for hours scrolling mindlessly that have no meaning at all. They can be a form of entertainment, but in reality, most of the things through on PUBG media will not do any good to their livings. PUBG that makes young generation less productive and accomplishes less in life is procrastination, PUBG media is a big cause and also the motivator for procrastination..

The game is played online with other people an they generally have ending with chicken dinner. Gamer with this type, enjoys creating and temporarily becoming an online character assumes himself a real warrior ALAS..!! Gamers often build relationships with other online players as an escape from reality. For some, this community may be the place where they feel they’re the most accepted.PUBG game designer, like anyone else trying to make a profit, are always looking for ways to get more people playing their games. They accomplish this by making a game just challenging enough to keep you coming back for more but not so hard that the player eventually gives up. In other words, success for a gamer often feels just out of reach. In this respect, PUBG game is very similar to another more widely recognized disorder. The big disorders show up in TIME wasting, Gamer remains busy with cheating and remains away from counseling of his life and off the divulges of Guardians.The yiuth remain connected for hours and hours that deplete his causality with Others and founds 24hours a less time for a day. Monitoring about how much youth are remaining busy with this we can renounce this as ADDICTION.
Addiction simply means a compulsive behavior that leads to negative effects. And in this case, PUBG media addiction is referring to someone who has a compulsive use of THIS media.
Addict feels: Feelings of restlessness and/or irritability when unable to play.
Preoccupation with thoughts of previous online activity or anticipation of the next online session
Lying to friends or family members regarding the amount of time spent playing
Isolation from others in order to spend more time gaming….
Fatigue
Migraines due to intense concentration or eye strain…
Carpal tunnel syndrome caused by the overuse of a controller or computer mouse…
Poor personal hygiene..

So what you do whenever you are free? Do you daydream about achieving your goals and visualize about realizing your dreams?
video game addiction has been linked to depression, sleeplessness and an overall lack of concern for one’s own health, it is not surprising that substance abuse is also a problem for many gamers suffering from this compulsive disorder. For those suffering from PUBG game addiction as well as substance abuse, proper treatment is imperative to recovery. If you or someone you know is currently suffering from one or both of these disorders, seek professional guidance immediately by calling us for help.

“The core of the idea of India “

“The core of the idea of India”
Owais Shah

The idea of India emerged during the epic struggle for India’s freedom from British colonialism.The idea of India to put it in simple words is that India as a country has moved towards transcending its diversity in favour of substantially inclusive unity of its people.India is blessed with a rich and a colourful diversity.Indian diversity-Linguistic,religious,ethnic,cultural is incomparably vaster than any other country in the world.According to a record,there are 1618 languages,6400 castes,six major religions and six anthropologically defined ethnic groups,all politically administered.There are some unreasonable ideas that fly around and exaggerate the role of British in uniting India but in reality its Britain that engineered the partition of sub continent.It’s the ignominious history of British that ripped through Cyprus,Palestine and North America apart from the sub-continent.Pan-Indian people’s struggle for freedom United diversity and integrated more than 660 feudal princely states into modern India giving shape to a Pan-Indian consciousness.The diversity can be maintained only by strengthening bonds not imposing uniformity upon this diversity.
Following the partition of India and the horrendous communal aftermath,secularism became inseparable for the realisation of the state of India.The ruling class held the belief that secularism stands for equality of religion but in actuality secularism means separation of religion from politics.
Idea of India arose from a continuous battle between three visions that emerged during 1920’s on the conception of independent India.
Indian national congress held the belief that India should be a secular democratic republic.The left firmly held the belief of political and economic reformation under socialism.
Antagonistic to both beliefs stood the idea of Pakistan and Hindu Rashtra.Muslim league under the thumb of M.A Jinnah desired of a new Muslim state called Pakistan and succeded but RSS failed to carve out a Hindu State.
The Indian bourgeois and it’s leadership,Indian monopoly capital due to the compulsions of its narrow basis had to align itself with the landlord sections in order to maintain its class rule in independent India.Just like Green revolution that was confined to few pockets “Ryotwari” during British rule.
The tallest leader,B.R Ambedkar on 25 Nov.1949 precisely paraphrased the most quintessential part of the idea of india.He said”On 26th Jan 1950,we are going to enter into a life of contradictions.In politics we will have equality and in social and economic life we will have inequality.In politics,we will be recognizing the principle of one man one vote one value.In our social and economic structure,we will continue to deny the principle of one man one value.How long shall we continue to live the life full of contradictions.How long shall we sent equality in our social and economic life.If we continue to deny it for long,we will do so only by putting our political democracy in peril.We must remove this contradiction as early as possible or else those who suffer from inequality will blow up the structure of political democracy which this assembly has laboriously built up”.
Reclaiming secular democracy means the reassertion of advancing the idea of india today.
It would be fair to say that India has come closer to the pretty pass.The emergence of the idea of Fascism in Germeny has also infected the idea of India.
George Dimitrov in his “The United front” says “Fascism acts in the interests of extreme imperialists but it presents itself to the masses in the guise of the champion an ill-treated nation and appeals to outraged national sentiments”
Fascism puts the people at the mercy of the most corrupt and venal elements.
Well,the analysis of Dimitrov straight fitts with the agenda of BJP and RSS “Misgovernance and corruption”.The ruling NDA govt led by Modi has diametrically failed in delivering the promises made at the time of elections.
The Hindutva agenda talks about communal polarization.An attempt to transform history into Hindu methodology.
Philosophical irrationalism that permeates all aspects of India’s socio-political,cultural life under the BJP govt is simply unreason.
It’s reason today to seek the realisation of the idea of India by working for an economic agenda that seeks inclusion.It’s unreason to implement neo-liberal economic reforms under the collaboration with international financial capital that seeks to subjugate the Indian economy to its predatory profit maximation.Apart from negating the anti-imperialist national consciousness and reducing India as a subordinate ally of imperialism,such a trajectory widens the hiatus between two Indians.Impoverishing the poor and enriching the rich.Such an agenda is an exclusivist agenda that is opposed to inclusive India.
It’s reason today to work for the socio-economic development of the marginalised sections like Dalits,Tribals,Adivasis and women.It’s reason today to seek reservations in private sector.
It’s reason to seek equality of all citizens irrespective of caste,creed and sex.But it’s unreason today to deny this equality. As Ambedkar warns,such denial of equality is the consequence of the current economic policy trajectory.
It’s reason today to separate religion from the state and its unreason to promote communal polarization promoting exclusiveness instead of nurturing inclusiveness.
It’s reason to foster values promoting the idea of India but it’s unreason to poison our educational system restricting its universal access.It’s unreason to seek the replacement of rich syncretic culture with a Hindu mythology.
It’s reason to seek the inclusive unification of the people by celebrating rich diversity.It’s unreason to impose uniformity upon this diversity through a Hindutva hegemony.
It’s reason today to work for the prosperity of all and it’s unreason to vigorously promote crony capitalism and it’s associated mega corruption in high places.
It’s reason to promote pan-indianism but it’s unreason to invoke Hindu nationalism and their hegemony.
The new agenda for reclaiming secular democracy means the triumph of “Reason” over “Unreason”.

Writer: Owais ahmad shah is
Student at GDC Handwara Kashmir

11 years on ,PHC at Dangarpora Sopore still lying Non -functional

11 years on, PHC at Dangarpora Sopore still lying Non-functional
Danish Tariq

The residents of north Kashmir’s Dangerpora village are facing immense hardships as the only Primary Health Centre (PHC) has not been made functional even after a decade has passed and local helpless patients had to visit sub-district hospital Sopore for all kinds of medical facilities.
The foundation stone of PHC was laid in 2007 by then Congress government.

Manzoor Ahmad, local resident said, “Although a decade has passed since then but construction work of PHC was going on at snail pace due to the poor response of authorities now the building is complete and some minor work is pending which can be completed in few days but the work has not been started yet. He added building acts as an open place for youth to do illegal activities”, we have no means of medical facility in area if the PHC would made functional it would ease our medical troubles.

Ghulam Rasool, another local resident said, it was a beneficial step taken by government to establish PHC in our village to provide basic medical facilities to locals but government has failed to made functional PHC on every side “the interior of building is now damaged, firstly they have to renovate it now and it will take extra time and expenditures to complete the building, still no proper fencing is constructed around the PHC”, he added : my son fell ill before few days I had to take him to sub-district hospital which is 6 kms away from our village, sopore for the treatment.

Nazir Ahmad Khan, who owns the land on which PHC has been constructed said, “I have provided land measuring 2.7 Kanal for PHC at a cost of 16 lacs 21 thousand and total compensation I have received till now 11 lacs I am urging to the authorities to release my pending compensation.

When contacted Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Baramulla, Bashir Ahmad Chalkoo said, “Due to paucity of funds the construction work on PHC was going at snail pace but building is almost complete some further work need to be done so we have handed over the project to R&B Department to complete it, he further added by the end of the year we are hopeful the PHC would be made functional.

Pertinently, the cost for the construction of PHC at Dangarpora has been estimated as 1 crore 68 lacs.

“Shah Faesal….The Trailblaizer

“Shah Faesal….The trailblaizer!”

Owais Ahmad Shah

After quitting IAS and plunging himself into the Political atmosphere,Dr Shah Faesals entry has received applauds as well as sharp criticism.What people call him as a trailblazer or a new age leader,Faesals political fling and now as a fulltime devotion to it has been a massive development in the JK politics.His first public rally in the month of Feb this year saw a massive public arrival and people offered an unequivocal support to him.Shah thrashed it out,took the plunge and embarked upon his new movement called Peoples Movement.The party name carries more importance and bears a passing resemblance with the Tehreek e Insaaf of Pakistan.Shah Faesal himself called Pak PM,Imran Khan as his inspiration for his struggle and super determination.He also spoke highly of New Delhi CM,Kejriwal for his will-power and can-do approach.
People in Kashmir were waiting for Faesal,the newborn politician to exert his influence in the next parliamentary elections.In a recent public rally in Srinagar,some new faces made in Shah Faesals party.It is of note that Shehla Rashid,the former JNU students Vice president also extended her support and also made her political entry.
As all eyes were on Shah Faesal,people expected something new and special from him.People thought he could be the torchbearer of grit who will wipe off despondency from the face of those people who have been betrayed and left unadressed.
Now as Shah Faesal has announced that he will not be contesting parliamentary elections,a soupcon of anger can be well seen in the faces of people.People wanted him to come and replace the earlier elected representatives.Faesal has put across some strong measures.He wants to put down his roots in every corner of Kashmir so that he can better communicate with people and can better understand their aspirations.
He does not seem to be tired of his montonous work in the recent past but he is brimful of enthusiasm and his top primacy is reaching out to the people so that he can better get their pulse.His political entry is similar to the movement of Imran Khan called “Tehreek e Insaaf” which later blossomed into one of the largest political parties in Pakistan,denting the invincibility of Shareefs and Zardaris.So following in the nose of Imran Khan,Faesal does want to have the audience in the palm of his hand.
His Khan like attitude strikes on my mind Bill Taylor who precisely puts forward his idea of leadership.Taylor says a true leader sticks his neck out for a bold course of action and finds some capital measures to cut through problems that people are facing at large.
As we know,elections are on the horizon,let Shah Faesal get down to the brasstacks and be fully equipped for the electoral politics.

The writer is a
Student at GDC Handwara(Kashmir).

“Ballot is Stronger than the bullet “

“Ballot is Stronger than the Bullet”

Showkat Ahmad Dar and Zubair Ahmad

Lets take a pledge to cast vote on Facts not on emotional Attachments this time. The 2019 Indian general election is scheduled to be held in seven phases from 11 April to 19 May 2019 to constitute the
17th Lok Sabha . The counting of votes will be conducted on
23 May, and on the same day the results will be declared.Hence All the national and regional political parties are in the full swing and using their elbow greese to draft their manifesto in order to get success in the upcoming election. Yes, Vote power matters in india Without Right to
vote their will be no democracy. I must say that Voting is not
only our right infact it is our power.

The biggest bottleneck in india is that People often and usually cast their votes on the bases of emotional attachment which after the decleration of result proved disaster when the actuality and Factulaity comes into the picture.As a responsible and Good citizen we all should cast our vote on the bases of factism not on emotional attachments. Sense of oneness and belongingness is very bad during cast of votes. Let me pen down a beautiful story here which helps you to understand the factism and emotional attachment.
Once upon a time their was an election in the united states between A and B. A was very good educated and pragmatic as compared to B. B was married and his wife who was also much educated and pragmatic B was much sure that on the day of casting vote his wife will cast her vote in favour of her husband.
On the very next day The day of voting was started The wife of B had gone to polling station for casting her vote.She casted her vote in favour of A not to her husband. She came back to her respective home and her husband was much sure about her vote in favour of Her husband.But during casting of vote Unfortunately the ring of said women was dropped into the box.She told a lie to her husband that she casted her vote in favour of her husband. The husband felt on the cloudnine that he might be win the election.
On the next day counting was started and polling officers found a ring in the box of A. Their was hue and cry whose golden ring belongs to. A was standing there during counting he recognised his wifes ring which he found in the box of A.He got surprised that his wife told a big lie to his husband. A lost the election just by only one vote.after approached at home A talked with his wife and told him why you told a big lie that you casted your vote in favour of me.while we found your ring in the ballot box of B who was my rival. The wife beautifully answered that yes one vote has always great power and i casted my vote on fact not on emotions because A is much intelligent and honest than you so I prefered to vote for A.This is called wisdom voting and power of one vote.Yes, it matters.

The other examples of power of one vote are:

In 1800 – Thomas Jefferson was elected President by one
vote in the House of Representatives after a tie in the
Electoral College.
In 1824 – Andrew Jackson won the presidential popular vote
but lost by one vote in the House of Representatives to John
Quincy Adams after an Electoral College dead-lock.
In 1845 – The U.S. Senate passed the convention annexing
Texas by two votes (27/25).
In 1846 – President Polk’s request for a Declaration of War
against Mexico passed by one vote.
In 1867 – The Alaska purchase was ratified in the Senate by
two votes: 37-2, paving the way for future statehood.
In 1868 – President Andrew Johnson was Impeached but not
convicted because the Senate was one vote shy of the
necessary two thirds required.
In 1876 – Samuel Tilden won the presidential popular vote but
came up one electoral vote shy of the
necessary two thirds required.

The word “vote” causes many different reactions from people.
Some become aggressive and begin to express their opinions
on various political issues while others try to avoid the topic
completely. However, there is a vast majority who rely on pat
answers to support their neglect in voting. They use excuses
such as, it doesn’t matter if they vote or not because their on
vote couldn’t possibly make a difference. They say they don’t
understand politics its just too confusing. Some feel that
Politicians are crooks so they need not bother voting at all.
These are just a few of the common excuses heard from
people who do not vote. All of these excuses surely won’t
make a difference in an election but one vote definitely will.
history So, it is evident that
politicians know that every vote they can attract will make a
difference in the outcome of elections. Our society seems to
have lost interest in politics for several reasons, some feel
that our present leaders don’t attempt to accomplish anything
while in office and others feel they have been lied to so often
they have forfeited their right to be trusted all together. What
they don’t understand is that voting and politic.

There are some who genuinely cast their vote, many
people sit back and relax on voting day, and others are
cajoled into voting for particular candidates. The importance
of voting is lost amongst the hustle and bustle of city life.
While everyone sits and complains about this and that, and
makes suggestions that the government should change this
and that, the elections come and go without half the
population paying attention. The highest recorded voter
turnout in India was recorded in 2014 for the Lok Sabha
elections at 66.4%. That means close to half the population
does not exercise their right to vote.

After 69 years of Independence, India has not proved itself to
have control and order. The fault lies with both the leaders
and the people. People are driven by religious beliefs rather
than what is good for the country. We should choose that
which drives the country forward, while still upholding the
Indian tradition. But politics is wound up in frivolous matters
rather than paying more attention to uplifting the poor, helping
the aged, education, water, preserving the environment,
agriculture, roads, planned urban development, and so on.

Voting is a fundamental right of any citizen that enables them
to choose the leaders of tomorrow. In many countries, the
minimum age for voting is 18 years. Voting not only enables
the citizens to vote for political parties, but it also helps them
to realize the importance of citizenship. Many people do not
vote thinking one vote will not make a change, but as a matter
of fact, it does. A nation’s political foundations are built using
elections.

Voting is a basic process that keeps a nation’s governmental
system works. It enables the citizens to choose their own
government. It also allows the people to choose their
representatives in the government. The purpose of every
government is to develop and implement various policies for
the benefit of its citizens. It also enables the person with the
right to question the government about issues and
clarifications. Voting is the way to express the opinion of a
citizen in a democratic nation. Voting is crucial to activating
the democratic process. on the day of the election, voters
won’t just have the capacity to choose their representatives in
government for the following term, and they can also decide
on measures like security issues that concede the government
authority to borrow funds for development projects and
different advancements. Also, in some cases, voters cast their
voting sheets on social issues.

Your vote can play an important part in making the change. If
you are unhappy with the current government, you can vote for
a better one. Not voting could result in the same party ruling
for another five years. At the end of the day, if the country is
stuck with a bad government, it’s the people to blame for
voting wrong or for not voting at all.

Every vote counts. Though it seems like an endless sea of
People are there to vote. Every vote counts. When the national attitude changes from thinking “my vote doesn’t make a
difference”, then the numbers increase and a multitude of
people voting will make the difference. The responsibility lies
on every individual.

Our constitution is based on the principle of one citizen, one
vote, one value, but one value has not come into existence till
now. Votes are being bought and this is happening because
citizens are not exercising their voting rights. One must
understand that when we have accepted democracy, we have
also accepted voting as part of our democratic right. We must
cast votes to help flush out corrupt leaders from politics. By
not voting, you are sacrificing your sacred right. Voting is a
sacred right of every individual and exercising his/her voting
rights is the duty of the citizens of India. If you do not vote,
you do not have any moral right to criticise anyone, the
elected corporators or any other political leaders. If citizens
do not vote, they are unnecessarily sacrificing their sacred
right. The youth must especially understand how important
and prized their vote is, which will help shape the future of the
country.

The new electrol Reform thats NOTA also matters.
The Government of India has made the provision for voters to
exercise their vote even if they are not happy with any of the
candidates. NOTA stands for None of the Above and this is an
important vote to cast for those who aren’t satisfied by any of
the parties standing. Voting NOTA expresses that none of the
candidates are good enough. NOTA votes count, however in
case the majority of the votes are NOTA, then the party with
the next majority will come to power.

POWER/DUTY of VOTING, whatever one calls it, is what fuels
the engine of democracy. You might not notice the importance
of fuel when your fuel tank is filled upto the brim, but when it
gets in the RESERVE/SAVE mode is when you start thinking
over it.

Conclusion : If you think that one in a million or billion or
gazillion cannot make any difference, you may sincerely ignore
Your existence as well
“A man without a vote is a man without protection Dear
indians and My kashmrians Caste your Vote this to legal and Right candidate and dont get to stick or rely behind the new
trending Chowkidar
Hope so All “Berozgars” this time will Press that button only which will give us Guranteed Roozgar.Above more than that Dont forget that out of 16 Buttons NOTA is also an option in the EVM…

Highway Ban

Umar Bashir
The state government’s decision to restrict civilian traffic on the highway for two days every week to facilitate movement of forces is an act aimed at worsening the life of the people, as state is already gripped with an extended sense of disaffection, separation resulting from hostility , varience and persecution, these measures will further exacerbate the situation.
The restrictions on civilian traffic on the 271-km-long highway will remain in force from 4am to 5pm and contains about 15000 vehicles including AMBULANCES ,SCHOOL BUSES that ply the HIGHWAY of the valley, but this announcement comes with big stick and will bustle the civil sections with severe pains in many forms and ways. The whole section of society will face hardships for some called few deemed elite . Due to the closure of artery highway the academic section will be badly hit to the extent that it will cause irreversible loss to students and lessening of the attainment of the quantity of education.

Banning civilians from a crucial highway in Kashmir is unjust, discriminatory, and reflects an apartheidist mindset among policymakers in Delhi.
This appears to be a tactic borrowed from the grotesque system of suppression and exclusion that Israel uses against Palestinians.
The highway goes through many towns and settlements in Kashmir, and is therefore essential for the local economy – a lifeline. To ban civilians from using it two days a week is just cruel.

Simply put, this is the conduct of an occupying military power. A decree that essentially means: we will use force to keep an entire population from using a lifeline route.
Halt in transport means a halt in mobility and non-earnings of these transporters during the Hartals resulted in the non-payment of loans to banks. Mechanical workshops, petrol pumps and service stations also got affected due to the halt in public transportation.
Pointing towards the inconvenience faced by people of Kashmir that at a time when the Kashmir Chamber has been raising the issue of lack of alternative routes and means of travel to Kashmir, the closure of the only available road link will put the whole population to unimaginable inconvenience and will have disastrous consequences for economy too.

The ban on civil traffic on the highway has thrown normal life out of gear in Kashmir, pains and snuffs the souls.
It is indeed a move full of disasters.

Cariappa Park in Shambles

Danish Tariq

Cariappa Park, one of the oldest park in the Baramulla town is in shambles and lying in a state of neglect. The dilapidated condition of ‘Cariappa Park’ has continuously irked the local residents and visitors. In 2018 District Floriculture Department demolished the park for renovation process but park is not renovated yet. Park is located at Srinagar-Muzaffarabad highway.

Ishfaq Naikoo, local resident said, “Cariappa park is famous and oldest in the town it is being used as resting place by locals and as well as passenger, visitors but in 2018 the park was demolished on the name of renovation which is not yet renovated as it’s only park here, he added commuters suffer a lot due to negligence of authorities before demolition we in park were able to sit after demolition park is desolated.

Rifat wani, local passenger said, as the season of planting flowers, trees getting over soon but concerned authorities had not planted a single flower in Cariappa Park it shows the poor response of administration towards the development, she added further if the park is renovated it will ease the sufferings of old aged passengers and add the beautification to the Baramulla town so authorities should take necessary action to repair the park.

A group of people appealed to the concerned authorities to renovate the ‘Cariappa Park’ so the locals and visitors would not suffer.

After the demolition renovation was started in the park but the only work has been done in the park was soil filling, the other works like planting flowers, fountain, seating arrangement, wall, fencing and other necessary works are still pending.

When contacted District Floriculture officer Baramulla, He didn’t responded the repeated calls of News Kashmir Reporter.

Baramulla Lok Sabha elections present mixed picture

Rameez Makhdoomi

Baramulla Lok Sabha seat witnessed an impressive voting in number of areas with strong areas of boycott as well.
At Sonwari Assembly segment long lines of voters were lined up in pooling booths from Shadipora to Safapora belt, with male voters exceeding the female voters.
Bandipora too witnessed festive voting, with entire Kupwara district barring few areas witnessing good voting.
Reports of good voting poured in from Uri, Gurez and Karnah.
Pattan too had people voting in impressive numbers.
Even within few hours Safapora in Sonawari constituency witnessed good voting.
News Kashmir Ground Report
At 10 :40 am the situation of election for Baramulla constituency was:
[758 votes total at Safapora E 115 polled, male 79 polled female 36 .Male votes are 382 female are 376 votes .
Bandipora.
Safapora F total votes 676 polled 57 , male 50 , female 7 .(Male 353 female 323 .)

Safapora Bandipora H. Total 964 votes 61 Votes polled. 55 cast by Male, 6 by female (Male 493 female 471 .)
Total votes 999 at Safapora .Total 98 cast male polled 71 female 27.(male 511 female 488 ).

Strong boycott was witnessed in Baramulla town, Sopore and few villages of Langate and Handwara.
At 1:30 pm out of Total 598 votes (male 287 female 11) total eight votes were cast in almustafa colony o90.
2 votes were cast out of 1016 ( male 518 female 498 ).islami baghibaramulla.
One vote cast out of 847 (male 400 447 female. Polling Syed Karim b Baramulla.

People stated that they were voting to get their basic issues addressed and end harassment culture.
Shafat Ahmad,a contractor by profession at Safapora stated ” The vote is to change the dismal picture with reference to the development of the people .We are voting to get better facilities and good standards of life .”

The contest looked three-way between the National Conference leader Akbar Lone and People’s Conference Raja Aijaz Ali and Independent Engineer Rashid.

Pic by Danish Tariq.