NVI Correspondent
Pulwama, Sep 18 (NVI): As the voting is in full swing across J&K after a gap of ten years, a generation gap was quite visible on ground with elderly voters claiming that they are voting for a “change” while young voters maintained that their vote is for jobs.
In J&K last Assembly elections were held in 2014. Among the voters is a great enthusiasm as the occasion is being celebrated as the “festival of democracy.” Talking to NVI, Abdul Sattar Bhat said that a change is must now. “We have waited for ten long years to see an elected government. There can be no alternative to an elected government. We have no access to the Lieutenant Governor. How can a common man reach LG’s office? So an elected representative is the one we can reach anytime,” he said.
In his 60’s, Bhat has been casting his vote since he was in 30’s. “Today, elections are very crucial. We have lost so much and it’s time to use vote power to get back our dignity. Apart from the broader context of the voting process, there are scores of local issues ranging from electricity fee, to drainage system to hospitals and upgradation of schools and colleges,” he said.
Zamrooda, an elderly woman, while speaking to NVI after casting his vote at Kakapora, Pulwama said that she voted for a party that can bring the change. “We have seen worse in the past seven decades, especially in the past 35 years. We couldn’t even vote in the past ten years. I have not changed sides. Today, I voted for a candidate who is trustworthy and can raise our voice in the Assembly,” she said, adding that “National Conference is my party and I will continue to vote for it till I am alive.”
On the contrary, youth who were in queues claimed that they are desperately waiting to get jobs. “All of us are a qualified lot. We have never voted in the past. Today, our primary concern is that we should get jobs once the elected government comes up,” said Ibrahim Nazir, a resident of Pulwama, who completed his Masters in Science last year and is trying his luck for a government job.
A group of youth waiting for their turn to cast votes said livelihood is the first choice for them. “If the candidate we have voted for wins tomorrow, we will ensure he provides us opportunities so that we get jobs. We are not demanding backdoor entries but avenues and opportunities so that we sustain our livelihood,” they said. The enthusiastic youth, however, claimed that their vote was also to get back what has been snatched from them. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserts that Kashmir is India’s crown, so the crown has to be special. We need special status back,” they said.
Present on the occasion, another group of youth, who seemed to be supporters of BJP claimed that special status was history and J&K was at par with any other State of India. “We have to vote to J&K to new heights of development like Delhi, Mumbai and Bangaluru,” they said. (News Vibes of India )
