Avtar Bhat
KATHUA, Dec 10: Undeterred by cross border shelling, the denizens on International Border (IB) in Marheen DDC constituency of Kathua district showed more charm and eagerness in casting their vote as large number of people including men and women were seen in long queues in front of polling booths from early in the morning.
The voters in both Marheen DDC constituency as well as Nagrota Gujroo in the Kathua district which went to polls in the fifth phase today were high in spirits. The people standing in long queues had such an enthusiasm and spirit to cast their vote said “It is the power of vote given to the people by the Constitution of the country that can defeat the bullet. Our vote is more powerful than bullet and it can frustrate the designs of Pakistan which tried to throttle the democratic process in the J&K for over 30 last years by sending armed desperados, indulged in border firing targeting civilian population and flying drones in our territory for spying”, they added.
“We have been facing this all for over last 30 years now but the people in this entire border belt want to convey a message to neighboring country that denizens living along border will not be cowed down by Pak game plan and they know strengthening the democratic process is a befitting reply to the enemy. We have decided to come in large numbers to cast our vote today so that both Pakistan as well as the forces within who are hobnobbing with the enemy are taught a lesson”, said Ashok Kumar, Naib Sarpanch Gopal Chak in Marheen constituency of Kathua district.
The people in border belt have been casting their vote in every election but this election is of special importance for them as it is the local election which is being held for the first time in the history of J&K, said Rakesh Chowdhary of Pahadpur area after casting his vote. “The fear of gun and shelling from across can’t deter us from casting the vote as we have a commitment to the national cause and we are determined to discharge our twin responsibility. Being civil soldiers we are working shoulder to shoulder with Army and BSF on border and as the citizens of a great democracy we are steadfast in participating in the democratic process of the nation”, he said, adding there is much enthusiasm among female folk in border belt who have come in large numbers to cast their vote as they know that being the local election it will ensure the development of their area.
The people were so overwhelmed by this election in the entire Marheen constituency that they forgot to take breakfast and their routine work in fields and business establishments and came to cast their vote first. Jaswant Singh a villager from Harya Chak which has an aerial distance of two to three km from IB said “People have come to cast their vote even without taking breakfast and they are standing in long queues as casting the vote is our first duty towards the country”, .
Same enthusiasm was also seen in the Nagrota Gujroo constituency of Kathua district where polling was dull in the morning hours but it soon picked up after 9 am with large number of voters entering the polling booths to cast their vote. The number of women was seen more in front of various polling booths than men and they had much charm to cast their vote for the development of their respective areas.
The people had shown such eagerness in this election that students and employees, both Government or private working at Jammu, Kathua or other towns, had reached their native villages yesterday and some came early in the morning to cast their vote. Even old men and women were seen in front of various polling booths to cast their vote.
A 98 year old man Ram Lal cast his vote at Khanpur Polling Station in DDC constituency of Marheen near IB. He was brought to Polling Station by his children. Lal said since the first election of this country he has always cast his vote and this election being a special one so he did not want to miss this opportunity.
People were seen in long queues in front of polling booths in both constituencies.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
