Jammu: Amid the shadow of militancy on the upcoming urban local bodies and panchayat elections and boycott call by the NC and the PDP, 3,000 Kashmiri Hindus feel vulnerable as poll activity picks up at their transit camps.
The J&K Chief Electoral Officer (JKCEO) will establish polling booths at transit camps but most of the Kashmiri Hindus are not eager to participate in the polls because of the security situation.
Despite returning to the Valley under the PM’s Employment Package in 2010, they feel outsiders in their own homeland. Pandits cannot exercise their franchise as regular voters but have to opt for “postal ballot”.
“It seems the government is deliberately putting us in harm’s way. At a time when elections are being boycotted and militants are burning panchayat ghars, we are insecure. We don’t want to be part of the electoral process,” said Sanjay Bhat of the Vessu camp.
Most of the employees who returned to the Valley in 2010 under the Prime Minister’s Employment Package live in slum-like conditions and see these elections just a ploy for politicians to use them for their interests.
“We wanted to resettle in our homeland. However, we are living here in slum-like conditions. Suddenly, the entire focus of the administration is to make us vote,” said a woman who lives at the Sheikhpora camp in Budgam.
DC (Relief) VK Dhar said every person was free to decide about his participation in the polls.
Polling centres have been established at transit camps in Sheikhpora (Budgam), Natnusua (Kupwara) and Veervan (Baramulla). In the volatile south Kashmir districts, Pandits can vote at Vessu (Kulgam), Mattan (Anantnag) and Haal (Pulwama). (Tribune)
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