DDC Polls: Development plank no longer excites Pulwama, Shopian locals

PULWAMA/SHOPIAN — Around 95 per cent residents of south Kashmir’s Pulwama and Shopian stayed away from polls as the slogans of development no longer excite them to exercise their franchise.

People said development and welfare slogans of parties/candidates remains only up to elections and once they come to power, they change colours like a chameleon.

Fayaz Ahmad, a resident of Pulwama, said they voted National Conference (NC) for autonomy but when they came to power, they changed their stand and never talked about autonomy.

“Instead, they implemented the orders coming from Delhi, which were against the will of people,” Fayaz said.

“Then we voted in favour of PDP for self-rule and to get BJP out of power but the same party brought BJP here and helped them to implement their agenda here and never talked about self-rule,” he added.

“Similarly, BJP can’t be trusted. At a time of scrapping of Article 370, they claimed that the move will see a new era of development but on the ground, it proved a hoax,” Fayaz said.

Irfan Ahmad, resident of Shopian said that whosoever comes to power in Jammu and Kashmir works at the behest of New Delhi.

“It is the regional parties especially NC and PDP who have indirectly helped Government of India to scrap the special status of J&K,” Irfan said.

Many residents of south Kashmir also echoed the same voice and said that development plank by the political parties no longer excites them.

“In the last few years, Pulwama and Shopian have only witnessed killings, shutdowns, Internet blockades. We are fed up as we have been betrayed by everyone,” they said.