Wednesday’s gathering and PDP rally at Wasoora Village, 50 miles from Srinagar, to support party candidate and youth leader Waheed Para, a contestant in the Lok Sabha seat elections, was significant in more ways than one. It marked the revival of the election process 10 years later at a place that had become the hotbed of militancy.
South Kashmir, once known as the apple bowl, was ravaged by militancy and insurgency since the 2010 civil uprisings, with Pulwama its epicentre.
Its Tral area produced the likes of Burhan Wani, a poster boy of the Hizbul Mujahideen; Zakir Musa, chief of Ansar Ghazwat ul-Hind; and Sameer Tiger, a trained militant who was often spotted in the area with an American-made M4 Carbine assault rifle.
Famed also for producing for the world’s best saffron, which is cultivated in the Pampore area, Pulwama is now seeing banners, buntings, loudspeakers as political activity revives in the Union Territory instead of armoured cars, guns and security men.
Villagers from Wasoora, joining the rally to support Para, who is contesting from Srinagar, marched from Tahab to Chandgam, covering around 4 kilometres across an area that was previously the scene of extensive patrolling by security forces to counter local and international terrorist threats.
Para addressed the gathering from a dump truck, urging people to use their voting rights in the Lok Sabha elections scheduled for May 13 here.
"I'm not here to condemn any political party, whether the National Conference, Congress, or BJP. Vote for me if you believe in my work, or support a candidate who shares your views.
"The key message remains the same: exercise your right to vote," said Para, who also faces legal charges related to suspected terrorist activities.
Since being nominated by the PDP, Para has been doing roadshows, and Wednesday's event was completely impromptu with no planning.
"I am amazed at the people's response, and I am sure that democracy will live on in this country," he stated.
Pulwama is now part of the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency, following the completion of the delimitation procedure last year. Previously, it was part of the Anantnag Lok Sabha seat.
Meanwhile, the PDP is about to host two election rallies in Srinagar today, one in Pantha Chowk, which is close to the spot where nine people lost their lives when their boat capsized a month ago, and another in Eidgah Srinagar, another hotbed of separatist activities.
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