Rajwar: Development and infrastructure remained the top priority for a vast majority of the population in the forest areas of north Kashmir’s Rajwar region, which Thursday voted in the fifth phase of the ongoing District Development Council (DDC) elections.
Located near the volatile Line of Control, the Rajwar belt, which has been deeply affected by the three-decade long militancy, remains underdeveloped, with people here accusing subsequent governments of neglecting them. The current administration too does not find many takers.
Local residents in the border district of Kupwara, however, believe that the DDC polls are giving them an opportunity to not only elect a local or a known face but also someone who has suffered along with the rest of the population.
Voters here generally avoided talking about Article 370 but a few did in hushed tones — particularly the subsequent moves taken by the Jammu and Kashmir administration, including the eviction of “encroachers” from forest land.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration had published the names of over 63,000 individuals, accusing them of illegally occupying more than 15,000 hectares of forest land.
Of the 595 hectares of land in Langate forest division, which the government claims is occupied by encroachers, 239.6 hectares is located in Rajwar region alone.
But most residents here either feigned ignorance about the government lists or expressed hope that the administration won’t take an extreme step to remove them from their “homes”.
“We don’t want to upset anyone. You will see the results and know what we voted for,” said one voter.
“These are our lands; how can the government evict us? It’s our home. The government can’t remove us,” a voter in Zachaldara village said.
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A PC stronghold
Regional and national parties that are part of the Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration, have centralised their politics around the Modi government’s August 2019 move to abrogate J&K’s special status.
The Rajwar region is one of the places where the alliance is considered to be strong owing to it being a bastion of the Sajad Lone-led People’s Conference.
The alliance has many takers, including Shameem Ahmed who is pursuing medicine abroad but is at home these days.
“It is for the first time that all political parties have come together,” Ahmed said. “I being a first-time voter felt that it was my duty to vote for the people wanting to bring back Article 370. The article is an important part of our identity.”
While there are many like Shameem who feel the same way about abrogation of Article 370 as well as the legal and administrative changes ushered in since last year, including repealing of J&K Forest Conservation Act, for a overwhelming number in Rajwar and other northern parts of Kashmir, the lack of infrastructure development is a top priority.
“The people here have not benefited from any government schemes. Regional party leaders have really not paid that much attention and mismanaged the place,” said Waris Ahmed, who is pursuing his PhD in food technology from Uttarakhand.
“Now we want it managed. Now we have a choice to elect someone who is a local and among. Someone who we can hold accountable.”
The village head at Zachaldara, Abdul Rashid Magrey, held similar views. “The previous government and the current one, too, have failed us. Look at the state of roads; it’s not fit for human travel,” Magrey said.
“There is no electricity, and despite Kashmir being abundant in water resources, our taps run dry. We are hoping that by electing a low-profile person, who has suffered with us, our plight will be taken care of.”
Burning need for voters — a playground
In four villages of the region that ThePrint traveled to, one of the raging demands was that of a playground, which voters said is not only important for the overall development of children but also a channel for them to relieve stress.
“Situation in Kashmir has never been normal. We have had two continuous lockdowns. The least the government can do is provide playgrounds but that too seems like a mighty task for them,” said Mohammad Shafi of Wadoora village.
“We have come to vote only because there is no other way to draw the administration of the government and political parties towards us. People have turned out in good numbers to vote but will the government award this? I doubt that.”
According to the administration, J&K witnessed 51.2 per cent polling Thursday, with 66.67 per cent voting in Jammu and 33.57 per cent in the Valley.
The highest polling percentage of 70.95 per cent was recorded in Doda district of Jammu while the lowest polling was witnessed at Shopian (5.52 per cent). North Kashmir’s border district of Kupwara reported 52.35 per cent polling.
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