Srinagar, Jan 25
In a bid to promote an active and participatory democracy, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri, encouraged citizens to exercise their voting rights in the upcoming elections.
Speaking at a National Voters Day function organized by the Chief Electoral Office Srinagar at Govt. College of Education, MA Road Srinagar, Bidhuri emphasized the historical significance of the election process in ensuring a peaceful transfer of power in the world’s largest democracy.
Reflecting on the theme of this year’s ‘National Voters Day’ – ‘Nothing Like Voting, I vote for sure,’ Bidhuri urged all participants to actively engage in the democratic process by voting in the upcoming elections. He shared key developmental achievements in the region, including completed projects and successful hosting of the G20 Summit and religious festivals.
Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Dr Bilal Mohid ud Din, underscored the importance of voting in elections, emphasizing the constitutional right granted to citizens above the age of 18. He highlighted the historical struggles for voting rights in various countries and stressed the need for active participation to ensure a healthy democracy.
During the event, a video message from the Chief Election Commissioner of India was streamed, and the Kashmiri version of the IEC video message of Mai Bharat Houn from the Election Department was showcased. Divisional Commissioner Bidhuri administered the Voters Pledge and distributed EPICS to newly registered electors, along with appreciation certificates to officials and BLOs.
The program also featured the announcement that 17 thousand new electors were added during the current phase of registration for the electoral process. The Divisional Commissioner extended an invitation to the Republic Day celebration at Bakshi Stadium, emphasizing that I-cards would serve as entry passes, and expressing expectations of a massive citizen turnout.
