The Unwinnable New Age War

Seeing the various phases of elections in Kashmir, I believe that all these phases have passed under different situations. In every phase, I must appreciate the voters who voted despite threats, violence, and who sacrificed their lives. Time and again, this shows me one thing: that people in Kashmir are deeply attached to Indian democracy. This has been evident during the last few elections when people, even after months of unrest, the killing of political activists, and threats during elections, continued to cast their votes and embrace Indian democracy.

In the recent parliamentary elections, there was a huge turnout. Now, in the assembly elections, people are again participating in large numbers and embracing democracy. All of this shows and witnesses one thing—their faith in Indian democracy.

What is special is that those who were previously against elections are now participating after three decades. The youth are participating, those who used to boycott are now campaigning for the elections, and there is a huge participation of contesting candidates. Jailed candidates are fighting, Separatists are in the race, and all the factors responsible for boycotts are now participating in the elections, leading to a change in the political spectrum. Votes will be fragmented, and the contest will be tough for the big political parties. This is the victory of Indian democracy.

This election has cleared various doubts in the minds of general voters. The manifestos we have seen during past elections of political parties will not work or be acceptable to the public. Secondly, this election will be purely based on public demand, not on sentiments. Thirdly, there is no place for political, religious, or ideological polarization to motivate voters.

Fourthly, people will vote for development, infrastructure, the engagement of unemployed youth, and for various basic issues that have not been taken up seriously by the representatives. Because of this, their old strategy of promoting self-rule, autonomy, or any other manifesto which is not within their domain become irrelevant after the abrogation of Article 370 and the Reorganization Act of 2019.

The August decision has yielded good results that were not expected. Kashmir has seen significant change and transformation after a prolonged period of violence and unrest. The lives of common people are now going smoothly with their businesses, schools, and other sectors. The changes after the abrogation have altered the mindset of the common people; at least it has restored peace, stability, and progress with full safety and security.

The views of the common people, seen on social platforms, are proof that they have accepted the abrogation of Article 370 as a transformative change and have changed their perception of those who provoked them into 37 years of violence. The present Kashmir, which is witnessing change, allows people to easily compare and contrast, helping them avoid hollow promises and illogical narratives.

The current demands of the political system have changed significantly, and it now calls for valuable and well-thought-out manifestos. It’s time to move beyond hollow assurances and focus on what truly matters: development, infrastructure, tourism, healthcare, education, and electricity. We need leaders who are dedicated to practical issues, such as improving education, providing clean water, and ensuring that we have the essentials of life.

It's time for a representative who understands our daily struggles and is genuinely committed to addressing them—a leader who can ensure that our children have access to quality schools, qualified teachers, and the resources they need to succeed. Education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty in our region, and it must be prioritized.

Healthcare should also be a top priority for any candidate seeking our votes. We need proper healthcare facilities in every constituency, equipped with well-trained doctors, modern equipment, and sufficient medicine. It’s not enough to simply build hospitals; these facilities must be functional and accessible to everyone, regardless of income.

There are several local issues that need urgent attention, such as drug abuse, youth counselling, enrolling out-of-school children, promoting girls' education, and establishing rehabilitation centres for those struggling with addiction. Departments related to our agricultural and horticultural sectors, along with other centres, should be established in every constituency to promote societal development.

We need a clear roadmap for upgrading potential areas like local tourism, highbred crop cultivation, and small-scale industrial units and manufacture units. These initiatives can engage unemployed youth and contribute significantly to the economy.

What we have observed during elections have been comparatively different after elections, it is because, the promises made by the political leaders for their voters and supporters were out of their domain and power and created fuss and contradictions and ultimately made their reputation in danger. We have great intellectual politicians who are not expect to state which is beyond their power and mark a question on their foreheads.