Srinagar, Sep 25: In the assembly elections held across three districts of the Kashmir Valley, including Srinagar, polling stations saw brisk polling during early morning hours, particularly in the outskirts of Srinagar.
Voters standing in long queues demanded for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood and the reinstatement of Article 370, while many demanded job security and upgradation of basic amenities.
The abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, which revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special constitutional status and downgraded the region to a Union Territory was the main issue for voters in various parts.
Bashir Ahmad Mir, a local at Palpora Srinagar told Rising Kashmir that today’s elections are an opportunity to assert their demands for a return to the pre-2019 status and statehood.
“We are voting today to demand our rights back. The removal of Article 370 has stripped us of our identity. We want it restored, and we want our statehood back. We are no longer satisfied with being a Union Territory. This election is a chance to elect leaders who will raise their voices for us,” he said.
Mir said people of Jammu and Kashmir were not taken on board. We have suffered from the past 6 years and no one has heard our pleas. We want to take revenge by voting today in large numbers and get our dignity back, he said.
“Article 370 was a shield for our rights. It was not just a political provision. It was part of who we are as Kashmiris. Its removal has left us betrayed. We are casting our votes today in the hope that this injustice will be corrected,” he added.
Mohammad Sultan Reshi, a local resident at Gund Hasi Bhat said that it has been six years since J&K was bifurcated in two UT’s. We are supporting candidates who pledge to fight for the restoration of both.
“This election is not just about roads and electricity. Those things are important, but the core issue for us is the return of Article 370 and statehood. We want leaders who will take these demands seriously and work towards bringing them back,” he said.
Reshi said they are voting not just for candidates, but for the future of J&K. This is about reclaiming what was taken from us in 2019. We would not stop demanding the return of Article 370 and statehood, he said.
Jehangir Ahmad, another voter at Mujgund Polling station said that Jammu and Kashmir has been downgraded from state to UT. We want back statehood, Article 370 and revoking of FIR’s against youth. We want to bring positive change through this vote, he said.
Voting for the second phase of Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir was held on Wednesday. Over 25 lakh eligible voters sealed the fate of 239 candidates across 26 constituencies in six districts of the Union Territory.
