Monday, November 24, 2008

Boycott the boycotters....

As figures for the first two phases of polling poured in, gloom must have descended on the faces of the separatists. Kashmiris have in a way shown them what they want. In an year where "the Kashmir Experts", the liberal left columnists, half baked journalists and jesters like Jug Suraiya had told us, it is all over for India, the people of Kashmir have just announced their belief in Indian democracy. Huge queues at the polling booths may just show the direction of the wind.

With rabble rousers like Yasin Malik, Bitta Karate and their ilk firmly in where they belong to, the polls so far have been almost bereft of any violence.

The most amazing feature of these polls is the defiance of an ordinary Kashmiri.The courage and resilience that the Kashmiris have shown against the army of self styled commanders of Jihad.It is about time that Sajjad Lone(the cry baby),Mirwaiz(what happened to his Al Umar Mujahideen) and Syed Ali Shah Geelani(May he get well soon) hide their faces for who knows what ordinary Kashmiris have on their mind next.

"I am voting for peace. Democracy should grow in Kashmir valley. My vote is to defeat the separatists and Hurriyat voices in Kashmir and strengthen nationalist leadership," said Omarkar Nath of tulmulla village of Ganderbal segment.

A cartoon on 'J&K Elections' which appeared in 'The Hindu' newspaper on Wednesday, Nov 19, 2008.

An elderly Kashmiri woman voter displays her ink-marked finger after she cast her vote during the second phase of local elections in Lar, 35 km (21 miles) east of Srinagar November 23, 2008. (Reuters Photo)

Mehtab Wani, an elderly Kashmiri woman, displays her voter identity card as she stands in a queue to cast vote outside a polling station in Lar, some 30 kilometers (19 miles) north of Srinagar, India, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2008. (AP Photo)

Jalal-Ud-Din, a physically challenged man, is carried by an unidentified relative after casting his vote in Benhama, some 35 kilometers (22 miles) north of Srinagar, India, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2008. (AP Photo)

Bashir Ahmed, a physically challenged man leaves polling station after casting his vote in Barsoo, some 28 kilometers (17 miles) north of Srinagar, India, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2008. (AP Photo)