LS Polls: Amid shutdown, Old city prefers to stay away from polling
By Ovais Gull
Srinagar: Amid a complete shutdown in Srinagar areas, the roads and streets till Thursday afternoon in Old City areas wore a deserted look. However, there was no festive look of polling in Srinagar with maximum people stayed out from casting ballots.
All the shops, business establishments, petrol pumps, private offices and others establishments remained closed in Srinagar district while as the vehicular movement was also thin on the roads.
The government offices also remained closed in view of the holiday announced by the government in poll bound areas today.
The voting began at 07:00 am in Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency.
However, the Old city areas had no festive look of voting today as most of the people residing there preferred to stay away from the polls. The residents who were seen sitting on the roadsides told INS that there was no reason for them to exercise their franchise.
“Whom should we elect our representative? All the political parties and leaders have failed to respect the sentiments of people here, therefore, voting for them is tantamount to betrayal with those who have suffered due to the betrayal by the political parties,” Ali Muhammad Lone, a resident of Habba Kadal said.
He said voting for safeguarding the special status of JK, is ‘a fake promise’ as all those who have sought public support from time to time failed to fulfill the aspirations of people. “We don’t believe in fake promises and won’t support any leader who has no agenda vis-à-vis Kashmir issue,” he said.
Moreover, the youth were seen playing cricket on the mid of the roads today at various places.
Talking to INS, the youth said they don’t believe in elections but observe the day as holiday, therefore, ‘We opted to play cricket rather than getting trapped in the fake promises of political parties and leaders.”
From Maisuma area to Nowhatta Chowk, the police and paramilitary troopers were deployed in strength to ensure smooth and peaceful conduct of the polls.
