Kashmiri Teenagers Make A Stand Against Indian Elections

These teenagers really make me proud and show a brighter future for Kashmir.

Note to reader: There has only been a 26% turnout in the indian elections.

PULWAMA/WACHI (SANA): The Kashmiri youths, who were yet to attain the age of voting, seemed to be disillusioned by the present election process and most of them asserted they will exercise franchise only when Kashmir issue is resolved.

Anger was reflected on the face of Basit Nazir, a class 9th student, who was watching people entering into the polling station at Bunura in Pulwama district. “They are playing with the blood of martyrs, who sacrificed their lives for a sacred cause,” Basit told Rising Kashmir.

He said, “I may not be a voter but am fully aware of the fact that election in presence of more than seven lakh troopers is a futile exercise. Those who vote should declare that they are Indians not Kashmiris as casting vote means accepting the Indian constitution.”
Stating that he will stay away from the election process, the 9th class student said, “I will cast my vote when Kashmir will become a free nation. If India is confident enough that Kashmir is its integral part then it should not shy away from holding plebiscite in Kashmir”.

A 10th standard student, Irfan Ahmad said the younger generation will prove visionary. “I may not be able to justify that voting is a sin but I must say that blood of Kashmiris won’t go waste,” said Irfan, who was standing outside a polling station at Pinglana.

Upset over people exercising franchise, he said, “I want to ask them what have they got so far. Roads here were in shambles since my childhood and have never been repaired. Regarding the jobs, I saw nobody here who was provided employment.”

Adil Wani, 16, of Wachi accused people of having double standards. “During the last summer agitation, entire Wachi was demanding freedom and sending fruit and rice trucks to Srinagar. Same people voted in Assembly polls in large number. Now, majority of them are staying away this time around”.

Giving an advise to people, he said, “We should mend our ways. If we won’t unite for the cause, we should die.”

A few teenagers said even if entire Kashmir would vote no change could be expected from the government. “Even if I vote after attaining the age of 18, that will not mean that I voted for India,” said 16-year-old Aqib Nissar of Pulwama.

Some of the teenagers said that they may think of voting but cannot even imagine of compromise on the Kashmir issue. “Freedom is our destiny and we will achieve it sooner or later,” they said.

Hasseeb Ganai, 17, of Wachi said if at all he votes in future, it would be for getting a job. “I will catch-hold of a person in favour of whom I would vote. Who knows, Kashmir might be a free nation by then,” added Ganai.

Source: South Asian News Agency

Kashmiri People Want "Azadi" From India - Indian Held Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah

Kashmiris want Azadi [freedom] from India and almost every Pakistani knows that, but ever since independence India has failed to recognize that. Last year over hundreds of thousands of Kashmiri protesters took it to the streets chanted Pro-Pakistan slogans as well as Azadi slogans in the IHK [Indian Held Kashmir]. The same year India placed elections in the region which had a 65% turnout [surprisingly the biggest turnout in IHK's history]. Even though voters stated that just because they voted doesn't mean they don't want Azadi [link below] but India failed to recognize this and thought they have gained success in their power game, But today the pro-Indian leader that was elected [Chief Minister of IHK Omar Abdullah] stated himself that Kashmiris do not want Kashmir to be a part of India [article below]. Is he just saying that to keep the hope alive of the Kashmiri people and stay in power [like his father] or he is actually going to bring change and freedom in the valley? God knows, but all I know is that this is another chapter in Kashmiri history, and perhaps depending on future actions an Important one. The article is below as well as some important links, be sure to check 'em out.

NEW DELHI: The Kashmiri people want ‘azadi’ (freedom) from the Union of India, Indian-held Kashmir (IHK) Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said.

In an interview with the strategic journal, Force, Abdullah said he would facilitate engagement between New Delhi and the ‘azadi’ sentiment. However, he added that people wanted freedom from New Delhi, not him or Ghulam Nabi Azad or Mufti Muhammad Sayed. He said trade across the Line of Control (LoC) was disappointing, describing it as “not trade, but barter”. “If I send them stuff and am unable to call and track my payment, I am not in a position to supply goods to them,” he said.

Unfriendly atmosphere: The chief minister said poor relations between India and Pakistan were the biggest hurdle to peace and development in Kashmir. He said relations between the two neighbours directly impact the levels of infiltration and violence in IHK. He also said the outcome of the Indian general elections would have a direct bearing on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. “If the government at the Centre changes, that can prove to be a little bit of a stumbling block along the way,” he added.

Listing his priorities after the Lok Sabha elections, Abdullah said he would ensure the visible presence of military personnel was reduced, while state police adopted a more proactive role. He also called for the establishment of quick response teams to fight militancy.

No consistency: He also criticised successive regimes in New Delhi for lacking consistency in dealing with pro-freedom elements. “Sometimes they are good, sometimes they are not. Sometimes we want to give them passports, sometimes we don’t. I think there is a need to change this attitude,” he said. Agreeing with the European Union (EU) assessment that Kashmir was not an administrative issue, he said the political dimensions of the issue need to be addressed. “We made the mistake in the past of assuming the money was flowing in, the democratically elected government was in place, the violence levels were down so there was no Kashmir issue,” he said, adding that regardless of the level of tourism, the flames of militancy would continue to rekindle without full understanding of the political dimensions.

Army role: On the recent standoff between his government and the army over the killing of two civilians, he said he wanted punishment for the guilty soldiers. “We want the army to send out the right message. But if they want to respond in routine by transferring the guilty to another theatre, we will also respond in routine,” he added.

Source: Daily Times Pakistan

Articles That Show Kashmiri Voters Still Want Azadi:
"The yearning for azadi is still powerful but elections are not a contradiction. The two co-exist in people's minds."

"No, no, I don't accept rule by New Delhi. I will never abandon the dream of azadi. But I am also a citizen. I have basic needs for myself and my family. Will the separatists provide those? Only the government can, so I voted," Jaleel said.
Source: Al Jazeera

One voter, Ali Mohammad, told the BBC: "We support azaadi (independence from India), but elections are important for the day-to-day administration. We need a government."
Source: BBC News South Asia