Brisk polling was recorded in border areas of Samba and Jammu districts which went to polls in the first phase of LokSabha elections on Thursday. Most voters said they voted to see “sustainable peace” on the borders.
Residents of Vijaypur, Samba and Bishnah stepped out oftheir homes in heavy numbers from early morning to cast their votes. Around 78percent voters voted in Bishnah segment of Jammu district, followed by 76.62percent in Samba and 74.91 percent in Vijaypur, at the end of the polling day.
Residents of Arnia—the largest border town situated veryclose to the international border (IB) in Bishnah—participated in the electoralexercise to “get rid of daily problems and ensure availability of basicamenities”.
RohitKhajuria, a retired army soldier, said: “Many thingshave been done in the past few years. The Border Roads Organisation hasconstructed a good road up to the border, but lot more needs to be done for thewelfare of common masses”.
“Border areas lack basic amenities. When ceasefireviolations occur, we run from pillar to post for ambulances or medicalfacilities. We expect the new government to take care of all these things,” hesaid.
“When Pakistani army resorts to shelling on LoC villages, westart packing our bags and get ready to shift to safer places. We are voting tosee permanent peace prevailing along the borders and ensure that safety ofborder residents is considered as a priority,” said Shakuntala Devi, a borderresident.
70-year-old ChamanLal Sharma, a voter in RakhAabTali, avillage close to the border in Samba district, said: “The country is unaware ofproblems being faced by the border residents in J&K. First and foremost, wewant an atmosphere of peace at our homes and secondly, we want all basicamenities to be in place in case of an emergency.”
“It’s time to choose a representative who would raise thevoice of border residents in the parliament,” he said.
LAST VILLAGE ON INDO-PAK BORDER SEES BRISK POLLING
They have lost their homes and belongings in cross-borderfiring and shelling, but not their faith in parliamentary democracy and hopefor a peaceful and better future. For the 400-odd voters of Jorafarm, the lastvillage on the Indian side of the International Border with Pakistan, the partyof choice may vary but their expectations from the new government are same:lasting peace and development.
The village, just 400 metres from the border fence, is partof the Jammu parliamentary constituency where polling was held in the first ofthe seven-phase LokSabha polls on Thursday.
It was a special day for the villagers, young and old alike,as it rekindled their hope. Early in the morning, most residents set out inhorse-carts to reach the polling booth, set up in nearby Jajwal village, aboutone-and-a-half km away.
“We voted for peace and development…Peace is imperativebecause every time Pakistan targets forward posts and villages, we bear thebrunt,” 35-year-old Mohammad Shafi told PTI.
Shafi, who was returning from the polling station along withhis minor son after casting his vote, said the new government needs to pay moreattention towards their problems and help improve their living standard.
“Look at the condition of our village…It lacks basicfacilities such as drinking water supply and proper road, despite sufferingimmensely due to Pakistani shelling,” he said.
More than 100 families reside in Jorafarm, about 35 km fromJammu. In 2018, most kullas (mud houses) in the village were burnt due toPakistani shelling twice: in January and May. A large number of buffaloes andhorses were also killed.
At least six people were injured and more than 30 mud houses were destroyed in another incident of cross-border firing in September, 2017. Prior to that in 2014, Jorafarm-resident Mohammad Akram and his two-year-old son were killed in alleged Pakistani shelling.
However, the village, popularly known as the “hamlet of Gujjar milkmen”, has witnessed peace in the past few months as there was no incident of firing from the Pakistani side, even when tension mounted between India and Pakistan following the Pulwama attack on February 14, in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed.
After most houses were damaged last year, “we painstakinglyrebuild our homes with a hope that peace will prevail,” said 48-year-old ShahWali, a father of eight children including three girls. He has replaced hisdamaged ‘kulla’ with a single-storeyed concrete house after the governmentprovided him Rs 1.30 lakh as compensation.
“We are optimistic and want our government to ensure that wedo not suffer anymore and there will be lasting peace on the borders,” he saidas he, along with his wife and two children, set out for the polling station.
A number of underground bunkers have been constructed by thegovernment in the village, but some residents said “we are not sure if thesecan provide us protection”. These bunkers also lack amenities such as toilets.
At times, Pakistani shelling lasts for hours, and even days,LiaqatHussain said outside the polling booth, adding that the bunkers shouldhave all amenities for these to become useful.
The presiding officer at the Jajwal polling station, AnurudhKumar Bhat, said of 742 voters, 303, including 123 women, have cast theirfranchise till noon.
“The polling is going on peacefully,” he added as some CRPFand policemen stood guard.
Under a tree near the polling station, ex-servicemenJoginderLal (73) and Tulsi Ram (72) were enjoying a game of cards with twoyouths, Devender Kumar and Shubam.
“We were among thefirst to cast our votes and want this government to continue for the nextterm,” Lal said.
Similar views were expressed by middle-aged Renu Devi, whoalong with two sons and a daughter, was sitting outside their shop in thevillage. “My husband runs the shop buthe has gone to cast his vote,” she said.
A group of young voters, including Ajit Singh, said they arenot satisfied with the current government led by the BJP. “We feel thisgovernment cannot bring peace on the borders and will only complicateproblems,” Singh said, claiming that there is no alternative to the Congress inthe country.
In nearby model polling station at Government HigherSecondary School Chakroi, people were standing in long queues and waiting fortheir turn to cast their votes.
First-time voters PoonamMeena and Baby Bhagat say they are going to vote for a “strong government” at the Centre which can bring peace. Incumbent MP Jugal Kishore of the BJP seeking re-election from the constituency, which has total 24 candidates. Besides Kishore, the other major contenders are Raman Bhalla of the Congress, ChoudharyLal Singh of the DograSwabhimanSangathan and National Panthers Party patron Bhim Singh. PTI