Battle for votes aggravates as elections nearer in J-K

CASTE DIVISION: Politicians have taken the caste issue at the main agenda this election.

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Poonch: Development issues have not been a poll plank in Poonch this elections, instead it is the divide between Gujjars and non-Gujjars – a divide which dates back to 1991.

“Both Gujjars and paharis moved an application for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) status during Chandershekhar government while Gujjars got it while paharis did not and hat is why the resentment,” says General Secretary Bar Association Poonch.

Three constituencies in Poonch with over 2.6 lakh voters go to polls on November 17 and even though caste divides rule the election agenda main stream politicians downplay it now.

“If Poonch will progress, its paharis will also progress and therefore Kashmir will also progress,” says National Conference patron Farooq Abdullah.

“This should not happen. Votes are given to candidates and not caste,” says People Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Mohammed Sayeed.

For years these people have been caught between countries and also between castes and as elections here are a sign that democracy has reached right at the edge of the country, it might not just change for the people here.