Srinagar: Despite contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha (Parliamentary) polls separately, Kashmir’s two major political parties, the NC (National Conference) and PDP (People's Democratic Party), have been campaigning on similar lines, opposing the administrative policies implemented following the abrogation of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution.
When the National Conference's Omar Abdullah started his election campaign in Central Kashmir’s Beerwah constituency, he explicitly raised concerns over local issues, including hefty power bills after the installation of smart meters, unprecedented power cuts, shortage of water supply, and youth unemployment, pledging to restore the rights of the people.
He urged people to assess whether their daily lives had improved since August 5, 2019. 'If your life hasn't improved, then it's imperative that the NC wins with a resounding majority.
“If unemployment has decreased, if the youth are employed, if electricity supply has improved, if electricity bills have decreased, if water supply is uninterrupted, and if the condition of your roads has improved, then undoubtedly you should vote for the lotus, apples, buckets, pens, and bats. But if everything is the opposite, then you should ensure the success of the NC through your vote,” he stated.
Similarly, PDP’s Waheed Para and its candidate from Srinagar, has asked people to treat the Lok Sabha elections as a referendum to send a message to New Delhi that Kashmir’s silence post abrogation of Article 370 should not be mistaken for happiness.
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“Slums in Delhi are regularized by the government, but in Kashmir, grazing lands allotted to locals by local governments have been taken by the LG administration. From property tax to unprecedented power cuts, look at what life has become for a common Kashmiri," Para said during the campaign.
“We fears about our identity, our land, our jobs, contracts and minerals. The people of Kashmir need to be heard and our issues and fears need to be addressed. The biggest assurance needs to come from the Parliament,” he said.
“Don’t treat this election as less than a referendum. Your vote should become your referendum. There is a need to send a message to New Delhi – that don’t treat the silence of Kashmir as happiness. People are silent but they are not happy with you (New Delhi),” he added.
“Thousands of Kashmiri youths are in jails. Our next generation is slipping out of our hands. On one side, a group of people are involved in drugs, and on the other side, the young and educated are suffering from depression due to recruitment scams," he added.
In Pir Panchal, as People's Democratic Party President Mehbooba Mufti vies for the Anantnag-Rajouri constituency, her campaign focuses on local concerns. She insistently condemns the BJP-led administration for neglecting the rights of locals, stating that they have allocated power projects, land, sapphire mines, lithium deposits, and water resources to outsiders.
During a roadshow in Rajouri, she stated that the abrogation of Article 370 had caused more harm than good.
“Our assets are being sold. Power projects, lands, sand, sapphire mines, lithium deposits, and water resources have been given to outsiders. We get costly power while the maximum power supply is generated from our resources,” she said.
“What kind of development is this? In the last five years, all recruitments are ridden with scams,” she added.
Meanwhile, the Apni Party, People’s Conference, and DPAP, accused of being BJP proxies, have failed to produce any manifesto. Instead, they focus on criticizing the NC and PDP for their past “biases.” The PC consistently targets the NC, while the Apni Party levels accusations of manipulation against the PDP.
When accusations were put forth by former J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah, criticizing the BJP for not contesting directly in the three Kashmir seats, hinting that they are supporting “proxies” like the People's Conference and Apni Party, citing BJP’s National General Secretary Tarun Chugh meeting with Sajad Lone and Altaf Bukhari to finalize aIn agreement with the pre-poll alliance; Altaf Bukhari, the President of the Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party, openly stated that he is aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP.
Indications became clearer when Home Minister Amit Shah urged voters to vote against the NC and PDP during an election rally in Jammu.
Voting in the Kashmir valley will begin in Srinagar on May 13 and in Baramulla on May 20. The Anantnag-Rajouri polls were deferred by the ECI from May 7 to May 25 based on the recommendation of the Apni Party, BJP, PC, and DPAP.