--classstrugggle-flipmag classstruggle-may-2017-flippbook | Seite 21

Kashmir
Democracy in Action
Once again, the democracy
has asserted its supremacy over
the people in Kashmir. Just 7.14
per cent of voters have casted their
votes in Sri Nagar Parliament
Constituency by poll held on April
9, 2017. Rest of the voters either
boycotted or kept themselves away
from the poll. The people of the
Constituency were in a massive
protest. They clashed with the
police, resorted to various types of
violence, set fire to polling stations,
etc. 8 people have died in firing and
more than 170 suffered injuries on
the day of polling. Re-polling was
held in 38 booths on April 13, 2017.
This was boycotted by 8 contesting
Candidates, who said in a
Statement: “It is not election but
selection. People are being fooled
with such exercises….We don’t
intend to allow our brothers to die.
“Two per cent of voters have casted
their votes. The voters in 27
booths of 38 have not at all casted
their votes. Does not matter! After
all, the democracy was to be
asserted.
On April 10, 2017, an official
from the Union Home Ministry has
complained the EC had ignored its
advice against holding elections in
the Kashmir valley considering the
prevailing security situation. On the
day of polling, Dr. Farooq Abdulla
said: The government failed to
provide a conducive atmosphere
for polls.” He alleged that the State
and Centre governments failed to
understand the mood and the
sentiment in the State. “I have
forewarned that it’s not right time
to hold polls. “
Curiously, the EC has declared
that Farooq Abdulla, NC Candidate
has won the election defeating the
PDP Candidate Nazir khan. In his
joy of victory, Dr. Abdulla has simply
forgot what he said earlier about
the conditions and thanked the
people for electing him.
The Congress has welcomed
the victory of Dr. Abdulla as a
rejection of Communal forces.
Here the parties of ruling
classes first seemed to be differing
and blaming each other over the choice of time to hold the election
in Sri Nagar. But this difference has
disappeared once the poll results
were announced. Upholding the
sanctity of polls has become a
common cause and prime task for
all of them. None of them bothered
to think how the elections
participated by a miniscule of
voters and oppo sed by the
overwhelming majority of people
can be legitimate and democratic?
Is it not making a mockery of
democracy and sending dangerous
signals for the people ?
Real problem is: The parties of
ruling classes in India-in power as
well as in Opposition – are not
prepared to address the national
and democratic aspirations of
Kashmir people. They seek to
‘solve’ the problem by relying on
the methods of suppression,
allurements and game of demo-
cracy. Their own experience in the
last several decades tell them that
such are proving futile and even
aggravating the problem.


immediately in all 63 Mandals
declared as drought affected;
Fodder be supplied for the
cattle;
Prevent migrations by
providing the work;
Supply the drinking water and
also water for irrigation and
other uses as an alternative for
the people in the areas
declared as ‘black areas’;
Implement the employment
guarantee schemes for all the
people and ensure the
immediate payment of wages
in cash form then and there;
Provide the facilities to the
peasants to produce crops
that require less investment.
The govt. to take the responsibility to supply better
seeds;
The CouncellingCentresbe set
up in every Mandal and the
morale of the peasants be
raised not to commit suicides;
The irrigation water be
provided through Handrineeva
project sub-channel; tanks be
filled. This project be
completed on a war footing.
Atleast, Rs 2000 crores be
immediately allotted to this
project;
Medical teams be sent to the
villages to help the people in
withstanding the heat of
summer;
All the school fee be cancelled
in the drought affected areas.


21
contd from page 20
false. The canals, tanks and bore
wells are empty. The peasants and
rural masses as a whole say in one
voice that the irrigation water alone
can be an immediate solution to the
problems of their lives.
The Probing Committee
demands immediate steps by the
government to address the
problems of drought – affected
people of Anantapur district:
Here are the DEMANDS:
1. Drinking water be arranged to
all villages on a war footing.
Arrange the Water Grid for
Anantapur district and supply
the drinking water to the entire
district;
2. The Govt. must take up the
drought
relief
works
May- 2017
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.