In Pandrethan, Athwajan, voters look for a ‘change’

For senior citizen, Muhammad Rajab Khan, casting a vote has been a regular feature of his life whenever the Lok Sabha or Assembly polls were held in Kashmir. But this time around, he said he decided to vote “with a different mindset”.

“I voted again today, but with a different mindset. I votedwith the hope that the person who would go to Parliament tomorrow at leastspeaks once in a loud tone that Kashmir issue needs to be resolved forpermanent peace in the region,” said Khan, a retired government employee,  who cast his vote at Pandrethan area ofSrinagar.

   

A small group of youth, outside a governmentschool-turned-polling station at Pandrethan area, said it was “time to changesides as all those who were chosen in the past Lok Sabha polls failed to speakabout Kashmir in the Parliament”.

“We need a person who can at least pitch for a sustaineddialogue on Kashmir in the Parliament. Today, we have voted for a change,” theysaid, showing ink marks on their fingers.

“Kashmir needs a change. A person who can at least raisevoice in favour of Kashmir can bring the change. There is hardly any evidenceof any Srinagar Parliamentarian who has been vocal about Kashmir in the LokSabha previously.”

One of the youngsters said: “Kashmir has started to witnesswinds of change and we need to go where this wind would take us”.

At the polling station, no serpentine queues were witnessedas the attendance of voters was thin but those who voted were high in spirits.

“Every vote counts and today we are hopeful that our voteswill make a difference that can be felt by the people,” said middle-aged AliMuhammad of Athwajan area of Srinagar.

Ali said he has been voting since he turned 18.

“I am almost 65-year-old and I have been voting in favour ofa particular party but today, I changed my mind to see a change. It is hightime we ensure a change. It’s the people who can bring change through theirvote and I tried my bit,” he said, wearing a smile on his face.

At various polling stations at Pantha Chowk and Athwajanareas, the number of voters compared to last Lok Sabha polls held in 2014, wastwo times less. Not more than 50 votes were polled in three polling stations atPantha Chowk while only 60 votes were polled at two polling stations atAthwajan area.

“Votes are sacred and need to be utilised in a proper way.We didn’t get any benefit from the people in whose favour we voted in theprevious elections. Today, we are voting for a new face who can at least speakon behalf of us in Delhi,” said Reyaz Ahmed, a post-graduate student.

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