Bread-butter replace bullet-blood as issues

Unlike in 1996, this year people of the Valley hope their votes will bring them reprieve from the atrocities of both the uniformed men and m...

Unlike in 1996, this year people of the Valley hope their votes will bring them reprieve from the atrocities of both the uniformed men and militants8212;along with jobs, better roads, hospitals and electricity. This spells trouble for the ruling National Conference.

This was evident when hundreds of villagers turned up at Hari Watnoo in Gulmarg8212;the constituency of Industries Minister and Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah8217;s younger brother, Mustafa Kamal8212;in support of the People8217;s Democratic Party leader and Opposition candidate Ghulam Hassan Mir on Wednesday.

The constituency has always seen a close contest between Mir and Kamal, who won the 1996 polls by a margin of 1,700 votes.

What seems to have angered the residents is the fact that even after six years of voting in the NC government, the area still lacks basic amenities. 8220;Our needs are very basic,8221; said a 65-year-old villager, Ghulam Mohammad Dar.

Another villager, Ghulam Qadir, said, 8220;8216;Unlike other areas, the people here thought we were privileged since our MLA is Farooq Abdullah8217;s brother. We, too, thought things will change, but six years on, nothing has changed.8221;

Mir, who arrived here amid a procession, too stressed on the common man8217;s problems. He also alleged that NC8217;s motive here was to ensure poll boycott. 8216;8216;Even yesterday, STF men had asked the people to stay indoors after 8 pm. This is part of a campaign to scare voters. They don8217;t want the people to vote because they know they will lose,8217;8217; he said.

This wave of anger here is part of the widespread sentiment in north Kashmir where the people have distanced the issue of upcoming polls from the bigger issue of separatism.

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Militant-infested Kupwara too is witnessing hectic political activity and the way the situation is unfolding, there are no doubts that poll participation will be high this time.

When asked what he expected from these elections, Ghulam Hassan Gulshan, who was part of the procession, said: 8216;8216;We have a choice 8212; we can either boycott the polls letting NC rule for another six years or we can vote in a government which is sympathetic toward our woes. I am personally for an independent Kashmir,8221; he said.

People, however, still hope for a resolution of the Kashmir issue. 8216;8216;NC is the only hurdle in any peace effort made in Kashmir. All other parties here have dialogue with the Hurriyat and militants as part of their political agenda and if they are elected, they will certainly mount pressure for negotiations,8217;8217; said PDP sympathiser, Nazir Ahmad Dar.

Muzamil Jaleel

Muzamil Jaleel is a Deputy Editor at The Indian Express and is widely recognized as one of India’s most authoritative voices on Jammu & Kashmir, national security, and internal affairs. With a career spanning over 30 years, he has provided definitive on-the-ground reportage from the heart of the Kashmir conflict, bearing witness to historic political transitions and constitutional shifts. Expertise and Investigative Depth Muzamil’s work is characterized by a rare combination of ground-level immersion and high-level constitutional analysis. His expertise includes: Conflict & Geopolitics: Decades of reporting on the evolution of the Kashmir conflict, the Indo-Pak peace process, and the socio-political dynamics of the Himalayan region. Constitutional Law: Deep-dive analysis of Article 370 and Article 35A, providing clarity on the legal and demographic implications of their abrogation in 2019. Human Rights & Accountability: A relentless investigator of state and non-state actors, uncovering systemic abuses including fake encounters and the custodial death of political workers. International War Reporting: Beyond South Asia, he provided on-the-spot coverage of the final, decisive phase of the Sri Lankan Civil War in 2009. Landmark Exposés & Impact Muzamil’s reporting has repeatedly forced institutional accountability and shaped national discourse: The Kashmir Sex Scandal (2006): His investigative series exposed a high-profile exploitation nexus involving top politicians, bureaucrats, and police officers, leading to the sacking and arrest of several senior officials. Fake Encounters: His reports blew the lid off cases where innocent civilians were passed off as "foreign terrorists" by security forces for gallantry awards. SIMI Investigations: He conducted a massive deep-dive into the arrests of SIMI members, using public records to show how innocuous religious gatherings were often labeled as incriminating activities by investigative agencies. The Amarnath Land Row: Provided critical context to the 2008 agitation that polarized the region and altered its political trajectory. Over the years, Muzamil has also covered 2002 Gujarat riots, Bhuj earthquake, assembly elections in Bihar for Indian Express. He has also reported the peace process in Northern Ireland, war in Sri Lanka and national elections in Pakistan for the paper. Awards and Fellowships His "Journalism of Courage" has been honored with the industry's most prestigious accolades: Four Ramnath Goenka Awards: Recognized for J&K Reportage (2007), On-the-Spot Reporting (2009), and Reporting on Politics and Government (2012, 2017). Kurt Schork Award: From Columbia University for international journalism. Sanskriti Award: For excellence in Indian journalism and literature. IFJ Tolerance Prize: For his empathetic and nuanced reporting in South Asia. International Fellowships: Served as a visiting scholar at UC Berkeley and worked with The Guardian, The Observer, and The Times in London. He has also received Chevening fellowship and a fellowship at the Institute of Social Studies, Hague, Netherlands. Professional Presence Current Location: New Delhi (formerly Bureau Chief, Srinagar). Education: Master’s in Journalism from Kashmir University. Social Media: Follow him for field insights and rigorous analysis on X (Twitter) @MuzamilJALEEL. ... Read More