Since early morning here, the people in ones and twos turned to cast their votes.
“We have voted to keep communal forces out and for the protection of our special status,” said Mudasir Bhat, an undergraduate student from Wussan village. Bhat believes if people do not come out to vote this time around, it would mean defeat at the hands of “communal forces”.
In Kangan belt of Ganderbal, Mian Altaf of NationalConference visibly has an impact to garner votes.
Mian Altaf referred commonly here as “Peer sahib”, has ahuge following in the area owing to his lineage from a Sufi clan of renownedMian Nizammudin, whose mausoleum is located at Babanagri hillock. MohammadYaqoob Awan, (63) from Kangan Wudder village said the Modi government haseconomically weakened the people through measures like GST and demonetisation.
“Mian sahib is a leader with integrity for which he isrespected all across. He (Mian Altaf) not just speaks, but does it practicallyas well,” said Awan.
Many other voters said they voted to protect the status ofJ&K guaranteed under various constitutional provisions.