Suhail Khan
Srinagar, 25 Sep.: Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Wednesday stated that it is a great sign that people who had been affiliated with Jamaat-e-Islami and other separatist groups in the past are now coming forward to cast their vote for the change.
Talking exclusively with Kashmir Despatch after casting his vote at the polling booth in Lal Chowk, Syed Altaf Bukhari said that it is great to see the changing ground situation where not only the common people but also the people who were affiliated with separatist groups in the past are now coming forward in this assembly election and are casting their vote for the new beginning of Jammu and Kashmir.
Bukhari said that the Government of India should also see this change, which is quite visible on the ground now across Kashmir, as voters are coming out of their homes in good numbers.
Pertinently, in his message on Tuesday, Syed Altaf Bukhari said, “I request everyone to use the power of their vote wisely. It is important that people vote wisely and not get influenced once again by the false promises and emotional slogans of the traditional regional parties.”
He reminded people how the traditional regional parties, for their own political gains, have fooled them through misleading slogans and hollow promises over the years and decades. Bukhari said, “You must not forget that these parties have always deceived you and stolen your mandate through their misleading narratives.”
Meanwhile, voting is underway in 26 seats across six districts of Jammu and Kashmir in the second phase of assembly elections today, September 25. The second phase covers 15 seats in the Kashmir Valley and 11 seats in the Jammu division of the Union Territory (UT).
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged voters to play a role in strengthening democracy by exercising their franchise. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also appealed to people to vote today to strengthen democracy and to free Jammu and Kashmir from terrorism, nepotism, and corruption.
The first phase of J-K elections held on September 18 saw a 61 percent voter turnout. The final phase of polling will be held on October 1, and the votes will be counted on October 8.
Suhail Khan is a filmmaker, content writer, and freelance journalist.
