SRINAGAR, May 14: Ghulam Nabi Azad, leader of the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP), expressed skepticism about the voter turnout in the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency reflecting public sentiment towards the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories in 2019.
Despite the Election Commission (EC) reporting a 37.98% voter turnout in the recent elections, Azad raised doubts about the accuracy of this figure in gauging public opinion. He had anticipated a much higher turnout, given the significant changes in the region over the past several years.
“I had hoped that Kashmir would witness 80 to 90 per cent turnout in view of what has been happening in the past seven to eight years,” said Azad, referring to the revocation of Article 370 and the altered status of the state. “So I thought the turnout would be high, like 90 to 95 per cent.”
Azad underscored the limitations of interpreting voter turnout as an indicator of public sentiment, particularly in regions affected by militancy like Tral town in Pulwama. Despite an increase in voter participation, he maintained that it might not accurately reflect people’s views on the political changes.
“There were some pockets affected by militancy. After 1994-95, the militancy started waning. Today the militancy is next to nothing,” Azad commented, highlighting the complexities of the situation.
When asked about the protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK), Azad expressed sympathy for the people of Pakistan, noting the differences in governance structures between India and Pakistan. He lamented the lack of democratic processes in Pakistan, where the military often exerts significant influence over the government.
“I pity the people of Pakistan as they did not get the kind of democratic Government that India has got,” Azad remarked, emphasizing the importance of democratic principles and practices.
Azad’s remarks shed light on the nuances of interpreting voter turnout in politically charged regions like Kashmir and underscore the complexities of gauging public sentiment in such contexts.
