Elections in 3 LS seats of Kashmir
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, May 5: The supporters and voters of BJP are totally confused over the silence adopted by the party in not publicly declaring its support to candidates in three Parliamentary constituencies of Kashmir valley including the newly carved out Anantnag -Rajouri Lok Sabha constituency.
According to sources, the BJP supporters and voters in entire Kashmir valley as well as in the twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch are in a state of confusion as there is no open indication from the party High Command which party or candidate they will vote for in the ensuing Parliamentary elections. The confusion got compounded after the BJP did not field any candidate from three Lok Sabha seats of Kashmir including Anantnag -Rajouri, sources added.
Sources said the BJP supporters especially people belonging to Pahari community who had developed an inclination towards the party after grant of ST status to the community by Narendra Modi Government wanted to reciprocate the same by casting their vote in favour of the party. The Paharis were confident that party will field its candidate at least from Anantnag -Rajouri seat but all their hopes were dashed to ground after BJP decided not to contest any seat in Kashmir.
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Sources said the Pahari people are still in a state of confusion that in whose favour they will cast their vote as this time they had decided to reciprocate the gesture of BJP as Modi Government conferred the ST status to them and this way a long pending demand of the community was settled. The Pahari people are still waiting that a clear cut announcement will come from the BJP High Command in this regard as early as possible so that the confusion and dilemma created by stoic silence adopted by the party over the issue will end, sources added.
Sources said along the Pahari community, the BJP supporters among Kashmir Muslims as well as Kashmiri Pandits are also in a state of confusion as to whom they will support in the ongoing elections. The Kashmiri Pandits, who were confident of participating in a large number in the Lok Sabha poll this time after the cumbersome process of filling up of M Forms for casting the vote was eliminated are also in a dilemma over the issue as no clear-cut signal has come from the BJP in this regard.
“It is unfortunate that two national parties BJP and Congress have not fielded their candidates from Kashmir this time as was the trend earlier so we are not aware whom to support and vote for,” said Nana Ji Raina, ex Sarpanch, Kokernag.
“By not fielding the candidate from three constituencies in Kashmir by two national parties is a cause of concern for the nationalistic people of the J&K. Fielding candidate by BJP would have stamped its decision of annulling controversial Articles 370 and 35 A. But it is not known why the party hesitated in fighting elections from the Valley where there is a lot of change in the ground situation with the efforts of Narendra Modi Government”, he added.
“The BJP should make public to which party or candidate it is supporting now as there is a very less time left for elections especially in Central Kashmir Parliamentary constituency of Srinagar, said Vinod Pandit a socio -political activist”.
“The nationalist people in the UT are waiting for the party’s announcement which they hope will be made within days as any further delay will be compounded by confusion”.
Vishal Jyotshi, another socio -political activist said “BJP should openly campaign for the parties it is supporting in Valley so that a clear cut message goes all around and people can canvass for the candidates the party is supporting”.
The Pahari people in Rajouri and Poonch districts besides other parts of Kashmir valley including Kupwara and Uri too are eager to know that which party and candidate they have to support, sources said. Sources said majority of Pahari people are annoyed with the party’s decision of not fielding its candidate from Anantnag- Rajouri seat.
Shabaz Khan a Pahari leader from Rajouri said “BJP president, Ravinder Raina was an ideal candidate but our sentiments were hurt when party did not announce its candidate from this newly carved out Lok Sabha seat”. Moreover confusion still prevails about Party’s stand as it is not known which party or candidate it is going to support though poll dates are drawing near,” he added.
DDC Member, Surankote Sahil Malik said that the community is adopting wait and watch. “The Pahari community is waiting for an announcement from the party and it should not be delayed now,. “We want to fulfill our commitment as Prime Minister and Home Minister fulfilled their promise”, he added.
Shaheen Bukhari another Pahari leader said “We (Paharis) are indebted to Government of India for granting ST status to them and naturally our community will go along with BJP there are no thoughts for that. However, it is unfortunate that the party did not field its candidate and it is a setback to Paharis as they were committed to support the party,” he added.
He, however, said that Pahari community will vote for Apni Party candidate Zafar Iqbal Manhas from Anantnag-Rajouri constituency and for-Baramulla -Kupwara seat it will support People’s Conference candidate Sajjad Gani Lone.
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