Foreign Diplomats to Witness Second Phase

After the successful completion of the first phase of Assembly Elections in Jammu and Kashmir, the Union Territory (UT) is going to witness the participation of the voters in the second phase today. The second phase of elections for the Assembly will be held in twenty six constituencies across Jammu and Kashmir. Fifteen constituencies are in Kashmir and eleven are in Jammu respectively. In this phase Ganderbal, Hazratbal, Lal Chowk, Eidgah, Budgam, Khansahib, Chadoora, Reasi, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi, Nowshera, Rajouri, Surankote, Poonch Haveli, and Mendhar are the major constituencies that will undergo polling besides many others. The successful conduct of the Lok Sabha Elections and now the Assembly Elections has sent a positive message among the masses and the situation on the ground is indeed encouraging for the grass root democracy. On the one hand, if it has generated a new hope among the conflict ridden people who have lost resources and loved ones due to the ethno-religious conflict then there are the subversives that want to inject regression by creating a destabilising narrative for their vested interests. Local media in Kashmir. Both print and electronic have been reporting the ground situation without compromising the ethics of professional journalism in Kashmir amid serious challenges that they face on a daily basis. It takes a lot of courage and conviction to work with precision and build the opinion for stable and lasting peace in the conflict zones. Newspaper journalism in the English language has undergone a sea change and has established that Kashmir has retained the legacy of producing quality material that can shape the opinion for the well-being of people. But this does not go well with the parachute portals and video channels. As it does not suit their sensationalism to project Kashmir as a region that is devoid of progressive movement in the society. This will not deter the media in Kashmir from serving the nation and its people. It will reach out to the people in India and the world, projecting the success stories of the local people who have upheld the nation and kept the national flag flying high. It is pertinent to mention that twenty diplomats will be visiting Jammu and Kashmir election observers during the second phase. These diplomats are representing the United States, France, Germany, Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia and the ASEAN countries. After the neutralisation of Article 370 and 35 A the foreign diplomats are visiting Jammu and Kashmir for the third time. This delegation is slated to meet the politicians and the officials to get first hand information about the normalcy and the restoration of democracy in the UT. It will indeed give apt answers to the machinations that are working overtime to create a regressive narrative about Kashmir and are baffled by the free, fair and progressive editorial policies of the Kashmir based dailies. Journalism in Kashmir won’t succumb to arm twisting tactics of the vested interests that want to grind their axe by milking the subversive conflict. The mainstream national media fraternity in India must stand with their counterparts in Jammu and Kashmir and join hands to project the truth about the vibrancy that is enabling change and development. The second phase of election will surely add another cap in the democratic history of Jammu and Kashmir. It is one more step towards inclusive growth and good governance that is much needed to make Jammu and Kashmir India’s model for peace and prosperity.