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| Voters have right to punish promise breakers | | |
NIRBHAY JAMMUAL
Jammu, Nov 8: The election fever is yet to grip Jammu and Kashmir. The poll frenzy is not seen anywhere in the Kashmir valley. It is discernible in patches in the Jammu region. If the pre-poll excitement is missing in Kashmir is it because of the chill and sudden drop in the day and night temperatures? Or is it the result of the threat from the separatists who have given a call for poll boycott?
Well the weather problem should not discourage people in participating in the pre-poll campaign. People in Kashmir have participated in the poll process in adverse weather conditions and a drop in the mercury may not frighten them from coming out of their houses for listening to the promises of the political dream merchants. Most of the separatists are in custody and others are under house arrest as such there could be no threat from them. Yes, there are people who feel it is their moral duty to respond to the call given by the separatists even if they are in jails. They have fears that if they defy the call the militants, operating in the valley, may target them.
People in Kashmir have suffered death and destruction but they have not desisted from taking part in any political or poll process. They have been seen loitering round the ministers and bureaucrats for getting their wishes fulfilled. They have been seen knocking the doors of senior political leaders in power for securing promotions, transfers to less difficult areas and to lucrative seats. They have been seen visiting the houses of ruling politicians for getting admission in professional colleges for their wards. They are around them for securing route permits and other concessions and favours. What then is the problem for people to evince least interest in the poll process ?Nothing special except that they are bitter over the way those whom they had supported in the previous elections had not fulfilled their commitments which they made to the people, to be precise to the voters. You may have different reasons for the frozen attitude of people towards the election process. But the reality is that people have become disillusioned with the wide chasm between the politicians' promises and their performance.
In support of this contention one should not forget the shabby treatment that was meted out to Qazi Mohammad Afzal, a former Forest Minister, who is contesting the Ganderbal seat on the PDP ticket. Virtually he was hooted out of the constituency by people who blamed him for having been the architect of the Amarnath Shrine Board land controversy. He had to be escorted by the police to safety. See the ire of people who roared against Lal Singh MP and former Health Minister when he had gone to Basholi to campaign in favour of his wife Kanta Andhotra who had been elected to the Assembly from the constituency in a by-election. After six years elections in Jammu and Kashmir provide an opportunity to people to rationalise their frustration over the system of governance. They get a chance to give vent to their pent up anger against political leaders who, over the years, had not been able to fulfill their assurances when during the elections they had promised moon to people. The occasion for fulminating against the politicians come to people once in six years. Why should not they enjoy doing it ?During the pre-poll campaign candidates contesting the election and political leaders behave as if their hearts beat with the beat of people. Once the election is over meeting them without appointment is impossible. However, here are exceptions. Raman Bhalla, who was elected from Gandhi Nagar constituency in 2002,is an exception. And if the Congress either drops him or gives him mandate for any other constituency in the Jammu city the party is likely to lose one assured seat.
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