1. Few in Handwara Boycott Silently
Wani Ishtiaq
The streets of the Handwaratown are adorned bybannersand posters, blue,greenandred.Presenting
a desertedlook,withshopscloseddownandthe CRPFpersonnelpatrollingthe streets. Howeverthis
silence isdefiedaswe move fewfeetawayfromthe mainchowk,the chorus iscomingout from
premisesof the GirlsHigherSecondarySchool,people pherancladhave linedtheretocast theirvotes.
These were the scenes thatwere visible fromthe wholeof the town.Yetsome didnotbudgedto the
political campaignsandchoose toremainawayfromthis,silentlyobservingaboycott.
From thispollingstationtowardsright, the Chinartreesline the roadand maple leavesscatterwiththe
gentle wind.Movingfurtherintothe Chinar Park,youngboys are busyplayingcricket.Pheransandthe
kangriskeptaside.Aswe talkto them,all have reasonstovote and not to vote.ForZeeshan* nineteen,
leadersinthe frayhave done nothinglike theirpredecessorsandwouldcontinue withdeceiving people
for theirowngains.He says,”I have not seenanydevelopmentinthe town frommychildhood,leaders
belongingtodifferentpartiescame andgotaway fillingtheirowncoffers,withoutcaringaboutthe
people.”OnaskingaboutSajadLone,he labeledhimasanopportunistandplacedhiminthe same
politicianswhoshowtheirfacesonlyinelectionseason.
On the road connecting Rajwaraarea,Bilal belongingtoBaghatPoravillage alongwithhisfriendis
movingtowardsthe town,bothpheran cladwithkangristuckedin. Both are studentsof non-medical
final yearinthe local college. Theyhave lefttheirhomesto can escape fromfamilyforcingthemtovote.
Theyhave beencallingme fromthe time Islippedfrom home andeverytime Ididnot attendthe phone,
howI as a Muslim can supporta systemotherthanKhilafah”he says. Hisfriendinvokesreligionto
supporthimand asksto avoidusingthe word‘boycott’for them.Sajad*says,”It givesanimpression
that I will vote if Hurriyatorsome otherperson asksme to. No, I have nevervotedandnorwould vote
for the restof mylife,inshallah.”
Nearlytwelve kilometerstowardsKupwarainTreichvillage of the town,Waseem*,23anavidsupporter
of HurriyatConfrence, isangrywithhisvillagers.He expectedthemtoboycott the polls.“Illiterate,they
all supporta systemthat oppresses us.”he says. HisconcernisIndianmediacallingthese electionsas
referenduminfavorof Indiaandportrayingsomething thatisdifferentfromgroundreality.Ashiselder
brothercomes,discussion aboutthe pollingpercentage starts. Theytalkaboutthe highvoting
percentage areasinthe townand those that will supportthe boycottcall. Bothshare the same
sentimentof Azadi andare of the viewthatthe leadershave beenusingthe commonpeople fortheir
ownpurpose.Forhigherturnoutintheirvillage,theyholdthe campaigningandthe arrestof separatist
leadersandworkersresponsible.Hisbrothersays,”These politicianssell dreamsandbarterthe bloodof
martyrs forthe six yearsof chair.”
*Nameshave beenchangedonrequest.
The story was publishedinthevoxkashmir.