Suhail Khan
Tral, May 13: The changing scenario in the political setup in the Kashmir region has reached a significant milestone as people from the hometown of slain militant Burhan Wani, once a famous poster boy, have cast their votes in large numbers.
The Kashmir Despatch team reports from the ground zero in Aehrigam area of Tral, where a massive queue of voters has been witnessed since morning.
Interacting with the voters, the team learned from their first-hand experience that they want change and a better future for their children.
An elderly man, after casting his vote, told the Kashmir Despatch that the vote is a weapon, and this weapon can be used in the form of our representative to raise our voices in the Parliament of India.
The representative we elect will highlight our sufferings at the Parliament of India. The representative who will not let down the people of Kashmir is very important, so it’s crucial to vote for the right person.
Abdul Rehman, another voter, told the Kashmir Despatch that it is a moment of happiness in Kashmir, as people across all the corners which fall under the Srinagar parliamentary constituency participated in this electoral process for their safety and protection.
He said that to fight against the extent of oppression, people stood up and cast their votes.
He expressed hope that this time, the representatives whom people will elect will work for our development, our welfare, and our fight against oppression, as well as for our younger generation, who despite being well-qualified, are suffering from a lack of job opportunities.
Pertinently, Burhan Wani, a famous militant poster boy, was killed in 2016, and his killing sparked massive protests across the entire Kashmir Valley, resulting in the worst span of unrest in the region since the 2010 unrest.
Meanwhile, the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency has recorded over 29 percent voter turnout till 3 pm, even as voting is underway with long queues of voters outside the polling stations.
