Shah Basit/ Rayees Shah
The entire village of Kanyari in the Hajin area of Bandipora is grappling with landlessness, a condition that has persisted for decades despite political promises.
During the assembly elections held on Tuesday, the villagers recorded zero votes, boycotting the polls in protest against a decade of neglect and unfulfilled commitments from political parties.
Frustrated by continuous disregard for their needs, residents accused politicians of only appearing during election campaigns and failing to deliver on their promises afterward.
The community has long suffered from a lack of basic amenities, including proper road connectivity and access to clean water.
“We are landless people, and political leaders only come around during election time, making empty promises. Our village is still deprived of essential services, and we will not cast our votes until our issues are resolved,” a resident expressed while speaking to The Kashmiriyat.
Mohammad Shafi, the Sarpanch of Kanyari, emphasized the ongoing struggle for land rights, referencing the “land for landless” scheme.
“Since 1951, we have been voting, with every political party promising us land as we are a landless community. We were given documents for five marlas of land under the land for landless scheme, but the application of land never happened. This time, the entire village has decided to boycott the elections,” he stated, reflecting the deep-seated frustration over unfulfilled land commitments.
Residents also highlighted the impact of the 2014 floods, which exacerbated their plight.
“We have been promised land after the floods, and we live in a flash flood-prone area, yet we are still awaiting the government’s commitment to settle us in an alternative location. They don’t allow us any construction, and they haven’t provided us with an alternative site,” another local resident lamented.
The villagers remain resolute in their decision to abstain from voting until their demands are addressed.
They have called on higher authorities, including the Deputy Commissioner of Bandipora, to intervene and resolve their longstanding issues.
“We urge the higher authorities to take immediate action and address our concerns,” the villagers appealed, underscoring their determination for change.
As the assembly elections unfold, the silence at the polling booths in Kanyari village speaks volumes about the community’s disenfranchisement and the struggle for land and basic rights in rural areas of Kashmir.
Boycotting the polls or exercising the right to vote may be a matter of choice in urban areas of Kashmir, but in the rural regions of the valley like Kanyari, it becomes a necessity.