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KASHMIR BYPOLLS KASHMIR

BYPOLLS IN KASHMIR A has only further worsened last time Panchayat polls were
making holding of polls even
held in 2011 when more than
LITMUS TEST FOR ALL more daunting an exercise. 80 percent of the people cast
their ballot defying separatist
More so, the Panchayat and
urban local bodies polls which boycott call, thereby dealing
Through Panchayat elections, J&K mulls a are fought at the village and a blow to the then prevailing
democratic gamble to restore normalcy, locality level. militancy.
But for the state and central
But as of now, ithe situ-
writes RIYAZ WANI governments, holding these ation is entirely different. It
polls has become both a point seems counter-intuitive to
ammu and Kashmir is the former Governor Vohra. of prestige and a test of their imagine people taking part in
once again looking to But there is a rider: their par- ability to make a redeeming the exercise in large numbers.
hold Panchayat polls in ticipation should in no way be difference to the situation. Any On the contrary, the exercise
the state. The noise to linked to the politics and the sign or semblance of public is believed to lead to a sharp
J the effect has grown Kashmir issue. participation in the. polls escalation in violence with
stronger since the impo- “We have made it clear that would herald a change for the candidates and even the
sition of Governor’s rule. But Panchayat polls are purely a better in the situation. After all, voters becoming the target
the clearest signal about the community-based
conduct of such polls in near exercise. Panchayats
future was given by the Prime existed in the state
Minister Narendra Modi in his when there was
Independence Day speech. no government,”
He said the people from the AJKPC president
state were urging him to hold Shafiq Mir said. Also,
the panchayat election and they have urged the
that the government would government to hold Adding beauty Suhail Nazir
organise them over the next panchayat polls on a (26) at his salon ‘Beauty and
three months. non-party basis. the Peach’
The then J&K Governor However, Mir hails
N N Vohra even announced from Jammu region
the time frame in his I-Day and his opinion
address. He said, “The elec- doesn’t reflect the Young Kashmir is weaving
tions to urban local bodies are sentiment in Kashmir
scheduled to take place during Valley, the epicentre
September-October and the of turmoil. The situ- dreams into success
phased panchayat polls dur- ation in the Valley is
ing October- December this by and large reverse
year”. of the one prevailing
Ever since, J&K Police has in Jammu. Past few Kashmir is not conducive for its people going by the tense situation and development
gone about preparing a secu- years have witnessed related issues. Nevertheless, the youth are doing their best to fulfil their dreams and carve
rity plan. It is also preparing a a drastic deterioration in the of the militants. Besides, the
report about the requirement security environment. Last • Seat matters The MP seat from renewed and reinforced mass a niche in different domains, SAFINA NABI reports
of the additional forces to be year, the government was South Kashmir is still vacant sympathy with the separatist
sent to the Ministry of Home unable to hold by-poll for a cause only further increases ashmir, which is known ployment issue or others, as it is not the was certain to do something different
Affairs. And according to Parliamentary seat in South the challenge. “For us, militan- as one of the most heavily same case in other states, nevertheless, and was fascinated with photography,
additional director general of Kashmir. The seat is still cy is not so much a problem militarised regions in the the youth are thriving best to carve a cinematography and filmmaking from
police Muneer Khan police is vacant. And the election for Last year, the as the public support for it,”. world is not only limited niche in different sectors. The Youth in a very tender age. Since Wani belongs
also identifying “sensitive and the by-poll in central Kashmir J&K government says a police officer. “If people K to conflicts and paralysed Kashmir comprises 60 per cent of total to a family that is mostly into the hospi-
hyper sensitive areas” which parliamentary constituency can put their lives on the line governance. Kashmir is well-known population. Here are the stories of few tality sector, he got a supportive atmos-
would require more security. could only be held at the cost was unable to to save the militants, they will for its unconditional natural beauty, youths who are restless and are trying phere at home when he wished to take
The process has received of the death of seven protest- be that much particular to pristine lakes, clear gushing waters to create a space of their own. up his hobby as a profession.
a boost of sorts with the All ers. What is more, barely 7 hold by-poll for obey the separatist call for the and mountainous peaks. Although, the Thirty-year-old Isam Wani, who Wani had started shooting short
J&K Panchayat Conference per cent people exercised an MP seat in boycott of polls “ present condition in the valley is not hails from Rajbagh Srinagar, completed documentaries and web series from
showing its readiness to fight their franchise while the rest conducive for its people going by the his masters in business administration the tender age of 18 only. He said, “I am
the polls in a memorandum to boycotted. The situation since South Kashmir LETTERS@TEHELKA.COM frequent encounters, protests, unem- from the University of Kashmir. Wani more passionate about showing Kash-

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24 Panchayat elections Riyaz.indd 3 9/1/2018 3:21:41 PM 25-27 Safina Nabi.indd 3 9/1/2018 3:24:35 PM