Regard Srinagar: Ghulam Nabi Azad, head of DPAP, conveyed Tuesday that the voter participation in the Srinagar Lok Sabha zone remains insufficient for definitive discernment on the populace’s sentiments regarding the annulment of Article 370 and the division of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories in 2019. The Srinagar region observed a 37.98 percent turnout on Monday during the initial Lok Sabha election in the valley post the nullification of Article 370, with the Election Commission (EC) affirming it as the “most significant participation in decades”.
Azad remarked, “I had anticipated Kashmir to observe an 80 to 90 percent participation given the occurrences of the preceding seven to eight years. Article 370 was rescinded, statehood was seized. Thus, I presumed the participation would be substantial, approximately 90 to 95 percent. The incremental percentage is of minimal significance as it is customary in every constituency of India. Consequently, we are unable to discern the populace’s sentiment (regarding the abrogation of Article 370 and the revocation of statehood). This is a novel circumstance for me,” Azad articulated to journalists during his party candidate’s campaign in Kulgam district.
In reference to the surge in voter percentage in insurgency-afflicted regions such as Tral town in Pulwama, the leader of the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) stated that the marginal rise in turnout is standard post every election nationwide. “Certain pockets were impacted by insurgency. Subsequent to 1994-95, insurgency commenced diminishing. Presently, insurgency is virtually non-existent. The areas affected by insurgency also observed a 30-40 percent voter participation, similar to regions unaffected by insurgency,” he appended.
Interrogated about the demonstrations in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK), the erstwhile chief minister expressed his empathy towards the populace of Pakistan due to their deprivation of a democratic structure akin to that of India. “I commiserate with the people of Pakistan as they are bereft of the democratic governance that India enjoys. In Pakistan, the generals either directly administer the government or install their appointees to govern,” he augmented.