Youth demand change in upcoming Election

Gazala Hassan
Be it any nation or the state, pre election time certainly creates a different scene. The difference should be intended to bring positive change. However, in Kashmir the difference is only about adding more chaos, making hallow promises, putting common people in troubles due to traffic diversions during elections campaigns so on and so forth. One can feel the indifference where we have rulers by default.
Otherwise elections are meant to break the monopoly and reform the system by giving people a chance to break it with their fundamental right-‘right to vote.’ Does our youth expect any reform from the coming elections? Nobody till date has asked these young zealous minds about the issue which directly impacts them. We intend to break the shackles of known and unknown fears in which our youth has been living since long time. Let Kashmir’s youth have their say.

The student’s of Amar Singh, College, Srinagar share their views on the coming elections.

Mubashir Khadim
“We certainly need a change, but politicians have miserably failed to do it. They just consider politics and governance as part of their inheritance. We need a change and the change has to begin from ourselves. We have to be responsible, vigilant and courageous enough to question those at the helm of affairs. We have been listening to so many things and big promises were made, but till date no one has lived up to the expectations. To vote or not to vote, it makes no difference as we live in a place where our basic right to life does not exist and right to vote comes afterwards.”

Raja Mudasir
“I voted in the last elections considering the pre poll promises made by so called leaders. It was useless because all their promises proved false after elections. I live in Bemina and the condition of the Bemina Bridge is quite evident before our eye which was left in a dilapidated condition for so long. What did the government do in this regard except cashing upon such issues for their vote bank politics? Prior to election they make big promises, but once in power they fail to keep their promises.”

Zulfiqar Husain
“I do not understand the purpose of holding elections which are based on lies. It is a futile exercise. The leader has to be a man of masses. One who can understand the small and big issues from a common man’s perspective, the one who can set us free from the slavery in which we are enslaved? We ourselves need to come forth and should not expect anything from these so called leaders.”

Irfan Bilal
“Election is an inseparable part of a democratic setup, but holding elections in our state is entirely different as we are living under Indian occupation. Till we are enslaved voting is simply a mockery and does not make any difference. We also need to check the least participation of people in the process of voting. The MLA’s and these representatives only appear pre polls rest they relax in their lavish and extravagant places. Elections under UN charter may help us.”

Abas Aziz
“Talking about election when we are living under occupation does not make any sense. In last election bullets were fired in our constituency and my father had a narrow escape. He was compelled rather tortured to cast his vote. Indian forces simply drag people to polling stations and these so called leaders only appear pre polls making lucrative promises.”

Mohammad Anwar
“From so many years now elections are being held, but nobody has taken it serious. Election can be no good solution to the Kashmir issue. We need plebesite.The perception of those who feel that separatists should also take part in election is totally wrong as doing that would mean that they are surrendering before Indian slavery. By doing so, they have to take secret oath under Indian constitution. There have been various political regimes that have ruled and then were defeated.
They will again try their level best to motivate us but we need to be vigilant and brilliant enough regarding such serious matters. We must have some student organizations at College and University level wherein we can produce our future dynamic leaders. As far as development is concerned it should not be a big issue as before the independence of India British invested a lot in various developmental matters in India. Despite Ghandi led a freedom struggle against the British.
The slogans of development and employment in the ongoing pre polls is simply a trap, but we need to be cautious .The responsibility equally lies on our elders they should transform the real Kashmir history so that our generation is not deviated. We must not be lured by the pompous sloganeering and must remember that right to self determination is the common goal of Kashmiri.”

Aisar Ahmad
“I am fed up from the process of elections and do not trust them because they always break promise. We are not given the freedom of expression, instead branded as terrorists by the Indian media .What can one expect from the setup which is already biased and hostile towards Kashmiris. The candidates forget their manifestos easily once in power. We need freedom of expression and a people friendly environment then only something can be improved”.

Hassan Phattan
“Boycotting elections or participating in election makes no difference. Majority never participated in voting, and how does it make any difference. Despite all this they form the government. Suppose only 3000 among 10000 people in Srinagar vote, this shows that the majority does not participate. As per democratic rules it should not happen. The election commission should have a role but alas they are all corrupt. If India claims to be world’s largest democracy then they should listen to majority of Kashmiris not a meager faction. I do not vote as I believe that we are living in slavery. Till we are not given the right to self determination these elections cannot achieve anything more than corrupt governance.”